𝐆𝐎𝐋𝐃𝐄𝐍

forty one

forty-one 

37 missed calls from Mom

22 missed calls from Sensei 

13 missed calls from Sam <3

11 missed calls from Yaya

10 missed calls from Mr. LaRusso

10 missed calls from Hawk 

8 missed calls from Sunny

5 missed calls from Demetri

3 missed calls from Mrs. LaRusso 

MIGUEL HADN'T GOTTEN CELL reception after the bus station in New Mexico, where their carrier lost service. It was now a day later that he stood in front of a convenience store on the outskirts of Mexico City. His data came back on! 

His thumbs hovered over Mom. What could he possibly say? What could provide encouragement and clarity for the mother whom he had run away from on a whim's notice, leaving nothing but a handwritten letter? 

Miguel took a deep breath and clicked on Sam's contact. It wasn't ten seconds before she answered and her sweet voice reached his ear. 

"Miguel? Where are you? Are you okay?" 

+ + +

Natalie woke up in an empty bed. His spot had settled to be cold to the touch. The bedroom door was closed, and she would have heard that lowest hinge squeak when he left. He couldn't have left. But he was right there when she drifted to sleep the last night... he was right there. 

After the nightmare... 

Maybe it wasn't such a figment of an overactive brain after all. 

"Robby? Robby!" Natalie bolted from between the covers, tearing open the door that separated her from the rest of the apartment. 

"What?" He shouted, running to meet her outside of the living room. 

Natalie exhaled out of her mouth, resting her head on his shoulder. Her hands rubbed up and down his arms as they snaked around her torso. "Nothing. I got scared." 

"What happened?"

"I just scared myself." She looked up at his unkempt hair, and the smile returned to her face. "No worries." 

"I'm gonna worry when you run out of the bedroom screaming," Robby whispered. 

Natalie shook her head, pressing a kiss to his collar. "I'm okay." 

"It was another nightmare. Wasn't it?" 

She stared up at his frowning face. He could see right through her, no matter what she would answer. Reluctantly, she nodded. Robby sighed and hugged her tighter. Natalie had no choice but to reciprocate. No matter how much she told herself she didn't need physical comfort - there he was. It seemed as if he knew her better than she knew herself most days. It was a superpower of his. 

Natalie had been having nightmares for days. Countless times she woke up during the past several nights in a hot sweat. That was why she spent nights with Robby. Enduring suspicions of endless sex from both parents was better than waking up alone in tears and panic in the middle of an emotionally reclusive household. 

Robby stayed awake with her when it became too taxing to return to sleep. They watched YouTube on the computer at four in the morning, curled up with coffee and whatever candy they could scavenge from the kitchen. He assures her every time that it's no trouble. He would staple his eyelids open for eternity if it meant keeping her calm and feeling safe. Natalie tried not to think about how many times he fell asleep at work because of her during the last week.