Chapter 18

When Samantha woke up, it was already past two in the afternoon. She reached out and realized she was alone. Layla had left early. Sitting up, she noticed a note on the nightstand. "I went out job hunting. I made some food. There's pasta in the fridge, just heat it up when you're ready to eat." After washing up, Samantha sat down for a meal and started her day. It was the first time in a while she had woken up to a proper meal. Usually, she grabbed a cookie to tide herself over, ordered takeout, or spent time cooking something simple. Either way, eating always felt like a chore. Even though both of them were struggling right now, having someone who cared made life feel a little less difficult. Later that afternoon, just before Samantha left for work, Layla returned. "I didn't get a job yet, but I did get the water heater sorted," she said. "Already?" That kind of efficiency was almost shocking. Samantha glanced behind Layla and saw two workers carrying a brand-new water heate