Chapter 4

The next morning, I stumbled into a bustling coffee shop near my apartment, bleary-eyed and still half asleep. The line was long, the chatter of the morning rush deafening, and I clutched my purse tightly as I waited.

When it was finally my turn, I fumbled over my order, my words tumbling out in a rush. “Uh, just a vanilla almond latte, please. Extra hot. And—”

The barista—a pierced girl with a kind smile—nodded patiently. “Got it. That’ll be $4.50.”

I dug through my purse, my fingers closing around crumpled bills and loose change. But as I reached for my…