Moving from Chicago to New York as a single mother, hoping that your new business does well, is scary. But what happens when you find out your best friends new husband is the leader of something even scarier, and the only person who seems to give yo...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
The whole house was wide awake by 8 o'clock this morning.
When Mikhail left at 7 this morning, after a rude awakening from Benny, I couldn't fall back asleep. And not long after, Asteria came and fell asleep in Mikhails bed.
I found her wandering around my bedroom, wrapped in her favorite blanket, looking for me. When I finally got her settled in, it was 8:30 and that's when Charlie called me.
*Flashback to phone call*
"Hey, Char!" I excitedly answer the phone as I rub Asterias back.
"Hey, Thea, how have you been?"
"I've been good." I answer. And technically it's not a lie, I have been good, but he just doesn't know about all the other traumatic shit I've been through since I got here. "But there is some news on Asteria and her doctors visit."
"Okay, good or bad?"
"I wouldn't call it a bad thing, I mean it makes her who she is, and it's a good thing that she finally got diagnosed because now I know how to help her."
"So she finally got a diagnoses?" His voice is laced with worry and happiness.
"Yes, and the doctor we went to is so nice and made Asteria feel so comfortable."
"That's great!" He cheers, "so what's the official diagnoses?"
"Well, it's not official yet because she is still so young, but he says that she is showing signs and qualities of someone with high functioning autism."
"And what exactly does that mean?"
"It means she has lower levels of support needed. But she will still need help, and as she gets older he will continue to monitor her."
"Are you happy with the diagnoses?" He questions.
"Of course I am, it's finally giving me some closure. But enough about me, how have you been? How's life?"
"Um, well....." he trails off, "I have some not so great news."
I stand up off the bed, covering Asteria up with the duvet, and head into the library.
"Charlie, what's wrong?"
He sighs, "I lost my job today, and rent increased last month, and I just don't think I can afford it this month. Cali, I'm- I'm struggling and I need help." His voice breaks.
"Oh charlie." I mutter. "Of course I'll help you. You were always there for me when I needed help. You can come here, come to New York and stay with me."
"No, no, I cannot ask that of you."
"Charlie, please let me help."
"Calithea, even if you wanted to help me, I doubt they will let me stay with you.
