9
AVA
I was just arriving to Manny’s, the first night in a long time that I’d left Grandmum’s bed.
I had to.
I didn’t want to go, and I wasn’t scheduled, but I couldn’t stay there. I couldn’t sit there, watching her go, knowing my mom was leaving too (in her way) and it got too much for me. Work was my escape. It was my constant. In a way, work was my home, and once I stepped inside Manny’s, I felt like a part of me could breathe.
I didn’t know how to “just be.” I needed movement. I needed busy.
I needed chaos.
I needed Manny’s.
As soon as I stepped inside, Brandon was frowning at me. He gave a nod to Derek, our other bartender, before slipping away and heading toward me. “Your grandma?”
I shook my head. “I need to work. I’m not scheduled, but do you need the help? I just… I need
