Chapter 31 : Demanding

MAXINE. The phone drops right out of my hand, landing on the tiled floor with a crash. The screen breaks, and as though in slow motion, I watch as the light in it goes out. It clatters some more until it’s lying flat, and just like that, it’s dead. And I stand there wishing it didn’t happen that way, both the phone breaking and my heart shattering. I take a deep breath to clear it all up. I need to go back out there and do more dishes for my shift. I have to get it together. I wipe my tears away, hoping no more will come, but to my horror, my tears just continue to flow down my cheeks until I start to sob. I back against the wall, cursing myself as I continue to sob. I cover my mouth in fear of someone hearing me, but it’s too late. The door opens, and in comes Theo. He’s smiling as though ready to hear the good news, but it gets wiped out fast when he sees me against the wall trying so hard not to break down even though I’m already bursting at the seams. But what finishes me is