HER BOYFRIEND SAVED HER IN HIS PHONE AS “FREE DINNER”—SO SHE CANCELED HIS BIRTHDAY RESERVATION AND LET HIS CARD GET DECLINED IN FRONT OF EVERYONE

Not counting rent.

Not counting groceries.

Not counting the way he had slowly normalized taking from her while mocking her for noticing.

Valeria sat at her kitchen table surrounded by printed statements, still in the hoodie she had slept in at Sergio’s. The apartment felt different without Diego’s presence. Not lighter exactly. Just honest.

At 1:03 a.m.continue reading …