DEL

Layla had missed another meal.

Again.

Breakfast came and went. Her chair stayed empty like it had gotten used to being ignored.

I didn’t even have to look. I already knew. But I looked anyway, because maybe this time she'd be there. Maybe she’d surprise me.

She didn’t.

The seat next to mine sat too perfect. Napkin folded, silverware lined up, plate untouched. Gleaming. Like it was mocking me.

Aurelia kept talking. Saying something about a border patrol she heard about secondhand. Some ...