No Safe Place

Late evening shadows stretched across the room when Danielle woke. Her eyes were swollen and her head throbbed. She waited for her phone to buzz — Kyle always called after getting home — but the silence was heavy, pressing against her chest.

He hadn’t called.

Of course, he hadn’t.

Her aunt still hadn’t bought her a new phone, so even if he did try, she wouldn’t know.

Tears welled again before she could stop them. Kyle had been distant ever since his uncle offered him that job in Colorado. Before that, they had spent years planning their future together — senior year, graduation, an apartment of their own. They’d been inseparable since eighth grade. He was her calm, her comfort, her safe place. And now he felt like a stranger.

She sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the wall. Her birthday was only three days away. Eighteen. Freedom — or something like it. But it didn’t feel that way. All she had was three hundred dollars, a baby she hadn’t asked for, and no diploma. She couldn’t stop thinking, I’m already failing at life.

Her parents were both serving life sentences. Her aunt — the only family she had left — spent her days high and her nights playing cards with strangers. The house always smelled like smoke and spilled beer. Nothing about it felt like home.

Danielle pushed herself up and stepped into the hallway. The air was thick with laughter, cigarette smoke, and cheap perfume. Her aunt sat at the dining table, cards fanned in her hands, surrounded by men she didn’t know.

“Can I use your phone?” Danielle asked softly.

Her aunt didn’t even look up. “What for?”

Danielle sighed and turned away, sinking into the couch.

An older man slid into the seat beside her, the smell of liquor clinging to him. He smiled, showing yellowed teeth. “You can use mine,” he said, pulling out his phone.

Danielle hesitated. His eyes lingered too long, but she forced a polite smile. “Thank you,” she murmured, taking the phone.

She dialed Kyle’s number. It rang twice.

“Hey,” he said, his voice familiar but distant.

“Hey… it’s me.”

“What’s up? I heard you got suspended.”

“Yeah,” she said quietly. “It was over something stupid. But, um… I have a favor to ask.”

“What kind of favor?”

“Could you buy me a phone? It doesn’t have to be anything nice. I just… need one.”

Kyle sighed. “That’s not a big deal. I’ll bring it Monday.”

“I’m not coming back to school,” Danielle said. Her voice cracked. “I’ll come get it though.”

“What? Why would you do that? We’ve got one month left! You’re throwing everything away — your future, your education—”

“Goodbye, Kyle.”