RING OF POWER

to stop. 6:47 PM. Two hours and thir

nd pounds he

itting behind him with her parents, waiting

tricia had shifted uncomfortably. V

ave," Alphonsu

that sharp edge again, the tone of

tal. I need to go." He didn't wait for a response. He

honsu

a lie, because he didn't know if he'd be back, and if h

im a personal loan withou

young loan officer who'd looked at his application, seen the

pounds, please," Alphonsus

that." She slid the application across the d

d it. There was

. His sister was a college s

g while he was getting back into his car. I

lked out today, right?"

s, s

ob like that. There's a pr

but I had a fam

ing in tomorrow. Y

sus sat in his parked c

ehouse that afternoon to de

d. His phone buzzed i

re you? My parent

to the coffee shop, hoping that Davi

pay, more hours, or anything that coul

:19 PM. David was there, restocking

d talk privately, David agreed, an

nce me two weeks' pay," Alphons

is head. "Alphonsus, I can't do that. I'm barely keeping t

everythin

the words to explain it w

ure it out

shop and drove direc

wo thousand pounds in cash, money he'd been saving for rent, and

of navigating programs and payment plans, they found a community assistance fun

ousand pounds, approximat

p to four th

n to his mother at 8:47 PM. She was safe for

ian was alone in the apart

ll on the table, exactly whe

ere you?"

Dealing with M

he said, "I need an answer, Alphonsus.

oked at her, and understood

already grieved their marriage, and now she wa

g to sign,

en holding her breath for hours. She p

her hospital bed receiving treatment, thought about the rent money he

k five

he papers and

hese to my la

Ok

tcase. It was already packed. She'd been ready for

his weekend," she said. "But I think it's

no

ight say something, might acknowledge the four years they'd spent

up her suitcase and

out for you, Alphonsu

she

ood alone in the kitchen, looking at th

now, permanent and offici

phone

id from the

he grapevine. Look, I was thinking, if you want more hours here,

ered before Dav

calling, but I need t

eep pretending that working himself to deat

coming bac

ilence on th

make a decision rig

ade my d

hung

oney. And he'd just spent the only savings he h