NEVER LET ME GO.

ly

ew York for two reasons: to foll

to New York was when I was in

ory brought two kids into

long. Predictably, for the former

most (maybe the most) iconic city in the world for a reason; the art and the history; the music and the arc

city was for masochists. In the summer, we co

d with terrifying storms like the present arctic-polar-vortex-bomb-cyclon

. The coffee shop of white cups and black coffee, of small jugs filled with cream, has that ambiance of frien

?” A beautiful girl pu

small latte, pl

” She marked a

thank you.

l holding the black sharp

write Alyona,” my

to fit in the palm of a child, holding that potent magic brew only the hardiest

in the city’s heart, where I can hear the pumping and thump in my house, the nightlife. The nightlife of New York emerges. Without the crowds and the commerce, the

e just the same. In any weather, they sheltered our families, stood fi

. Holding the cup in my other hand, I opened the door. The sound of the melodious song changed the atmosphere

d there and smiled at how she created her new dance moves to sho

ened her eyes and signaled me to keep the fur on the hanger. It made m

ward me whi

ce, we received one more ble

,” I loved it when

the volume o

tion,” her eye

tulation.” I

sings. He knows I needed it, and he gave it to me.

tel

ith a salary increment,” she reve

news, mom,” I p

orm Cassandr

er head lef

e her this good news.” I gra

r. She fell in love with a

in California and

the thought of getting full access to my bed

ow side bed afte

u?” I screamed as I kept m

mmy?” I rolled my eyes. Even after one

ts, she called her

y eyes and

ssed my phon

y mom appreciates her elde

esponsible than I am. I a

sister have pampered me since I was born. Th

new my mom’s heart very well. Without letting her spill a single

et a job?”

y mom defended me f

hospital,” I interrupted in between, trying

mom, Hallelujah,

search?” How did I forget? She neve

sear

my irritated gaz

t worry, she will get it.” My mo

gratulations,”

Cassie’

a big bro

e always protects me from

I popped up ag

u got any boyfriend

y as Cassie,” I

l get a handsome hunk who wi

xcitedly an

harsh voice came in betw

a chance to dictat

answered in

I will t

her voice i

ingle tear in my eyes, she

of God binds us; his presence and our faith in

mom and my

pper as we watche

my life, I have two

a and