𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐇𝐎𝐌𝐄, 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬.

TWO.

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SLOANE CURIOUSLY SAT ON
THE APARTMENT DOOR STEPS BETWEEN USNAVI AND ABUELA CLAUDIA. WITH ALL OF THEM LOOKING AT PICTURES OF THE DESTROYED BAR BACK IN D.R.

"¿Qué es eso?" Abuela Claudia inquired, pointing to the a reddish- or yellowish-brown coating decay. "Yeah. What's all over the pipes?" Sloane asked. "Rust." Usnavi replied. "Rust?" Abuela Claudia repeated. Usnavi then switched to next picture. "Lovely!" Sloane sarcastically add, lazily rolling her eyes.

"¿Y eso?" Abuela further inquired, now pointing to a larger roughly arched tile. "That's the roof." Usnavi answered. "On the floor?!" Abuela Claudia questioned
in total shock. "Ay, Usnavi. Tu eres un workaholic." Sloane concludes, laying
her head on his shoulder.

"Sloane tiene razón. You think it will
be different in the Dominican Republic?
Just like my Mamá. Morning and night, year after year...to what end? To wake
up and scrub another floor till the day
she die." Abuela Claudia reason. "Yeah but here I work to survive." Usnavi said.

"I mean don't we all." Sloane mumbled,
as she plays with the green fabric of his thin sweater. "El Sueñito will be a labor
of love." Usnavi reasoned. "The bodega
was only supposed to be temporary, but now I'm like, almost thirty." He add.

Sloane simply cringe at the thought of their thirtieth birthday nearing. Though Usnavi was exaggerating due to them both being twenty four and having six
years left. "The plan was always to go back. Hopefully, I won't be going alone." Usnavi glance at Sloane at the end, who was already looking up at him.

Sloane looks down at her new maroon color acrylic nails. Knowing that she is bound to have a conversation about the vastly different directions they seem to
be going in life. With Sloane wanting
to own a dance studio in the barrios to Usnavi wanting to reopen his dad's bar
in Dominican Republic.

"You, Sloane, Me and Sonny?" Usnavi suggested. "Y Sonny? Is he on board?" Abuela Claudia questioned. "He's my
next ask." Usnavi said. "After Sloane."
Usnavi add. Sloane quickly remove her head from his shoulder and sat up.

"I-I don't know. I just need some time
to think about a-all this." Sloane reply.
Both Abuela Claudia and Usnavi nod
in understanding. "Oh take your time mija, but Usnavi, I'm not going without him." Abuela said. "Look I got Sonny." Usnavi assured.

"You know I can't go nowhere without you and Sloane." Usnavi adds. There
was a moment of silence between the
three as Abeula Claudia begins to get teary. "I took care of my community,
no?" She questioned.