Smallara

Charity didn’t remember falling asleep. She only remembered waking — again and again — each time to a new noise that made her heart leap against her ribs like a…

Charity didn’t even have time to brace herself. One second she was a quivering bundle deep in the folds of Alejandra’s worn hoodie, the next, the entire cocoon lifted clean…

Charity could still taste the greasy residue of egg on her tongue, salt, oil, and shame all mixing in the corners of her mouth. She sat bundled halfway inside Alejandra’s…

Alejandra’s chair creaked softly as she settled her weight back into it, the laptop screen throwing a faint, bluish glow across her tired face. In the dim hush of her…

Charity didn’t realize how long she’d been staring at Alejandra’s hoodie until the giant girl’s voice rumbled above her.  "Here."  One word. Not a request,  a decree, plain and final.…

Alejandra stood up, bracing her palm under the tiny girl’s fragile back as she set Charity carefully down on her old coffee table. She watched for a heartbeat as Charity…