Beneath The Ivy Walls

A'S

ide before I even steppe

r spotless. I slid into the back seat without a word, adjust

nox?" the driver asked, as if

e text my mother that I

rom the curb, leaving the chaos

he study session with Ezra. He was sharper than expected. Sharper,

t used

returned to composure. The estate stood like a palace among trees, all white pillars a

he west corridor. She emerged from the drawing

-kissing my cheek. "How

in

ense. You haven't been speaking with that Navarro

or a project," I said instead, b

the edge of a settee. "S

a Bl

or half a second. "That b

swer. I did

posure, "keep your boundaries,

Like

s back from Atlantic early. His parents suggested a dinner

rse sh

slowly. "

t of having to sit through another orchestrated evening of false

IS

A'S

below the school's gleaming rooftops, casting long sha

eap perfume. My backpack tugged at my spine, the straps worn too thin to hold

Did Nana tak

ply ca

sn't eaten much.

the cheapest carton. Two kids outside were arguing over a melte

elled like detergent and damp concrete. When I opened the door, Myla looked

said. "How

and offered her

aded floral blanket, a heating pad on her b

bled, voice th

Nana. You

tly before drif

shower rod, I sat at the chipped kitchen table and opened

voice still ec

Dismissiv

ke I was a problem to solve - a variabl

when she was flustered. How she took control like it was second nature. Like

't env

n't hate

been the most dang

A'S

served in t

tered above us like a frozen crown, and the garden beyond the g

charity report on her iPad. My father was across from me, on a call

rely making a sound against the knife. No one asked about

lways li

Quiet forks. Go

messy, like it didn't care what people thought. The way he watched pe

ble. But not because

e he n

eing invisible, even i

ling?" my mother aske

ed. "Of

ery quiet

racticed. "Just think

to her screen. "Good. Stay focused. The

future I n

t upstairs to my suite. Closed

ont of the mirror, peeling off the v

tablet again and ope

derestimated

just thinking a

A'S

sleep mid-science video, wrapped up in a blanke

r around her and g

e counter. Nana was resting. The apartment smelled like warm tea and mild

e's the

. When Nana held my hand, it grounded me. T

il

er, I couldn't stop thinking about the flash in her eyes when I c

ze it, but she wore h

seen the

like - the kind that makes you smile in rooms where no one listen

ed for

essage. D

d ag

on. Sending it now. Let

l. Bare. No

e later, th

'll tweak the v

h

ys take note

the screen

rep

ered with someone wh

blinked. Disappe

fin

uck wit

- slow, s

t thinking about t