Author name: Hauda.A

LUCIA The week drags. Every day feels like a year. But I don’t push. I give West space like I […]

WESTLEY There’s an envelope taped to my apartment door. My name written in careful handwriting. No return address. I know

LUCIA I change outfits six times. Nothing feels right. Too casual. Too formal. Too trying-too-hard. Finally I settle on jeans

WESTLEY I shouldn’t have buzzed her in. But hearing her voice— Damn it. There’s a knock on my door. I

LUCIA The flight to Phoenix is two hours. I spend the entire time imagining what Carmen looks like now. Does

WESTLEY I drive for hours. No destination. Just drive. My phone rings seventeen times. Jonah. Mom. Lucia. I ignore all

LUCIA I can’t sleep. I pace my apartment until dawn. Rehearsing what I’ll say. How I’ll explain. “West, I’m not

WESTLEY One month. It had been one month since Carmen came back into my life. One month of the best

LUCIA Cafe Allegro was crowded. I scanned the room, looking for someone who might be Vera. A woman in the

WESTLEY The photos Jonah showed me were grainy—security camera footage from Phoenix. A woman who looked like Carmen. Same height,