𝙈𝙖𝙜𝙣𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙖 [ Kiara Carrera ]

005

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Carmen felt guilty after leaving the group and arriving home, hours later then she promised Lexi. When she crept in their bedroom at two in the morning, she could see both her siblings sleeping peacefully in bed. Lexi was wearing some random pyjama leggings, one of Malachi's big t-shirts and a green tutu to go over it.

Just as she shut the bedroom door, she heard the top bunk creak and silently groaned at the questions she was about to get. "Eres bueno (are you good)?" Was the question she got, one she was not expecting. "I heard gunshots." He added when he saw her confused face, a slight etch of concern in his voice.

Both Malachi and Carmen spoke Spanish and English with a tint of an accent. Their mum always used to switch back and forth between the two and now the twins continue to do the same with Lexi so she would be able to grow up with at least some of her heritage.

"Oh yeah, someone started being stupid, estoy bien (I'm fine.) How was lexi? Was she upset that I wasn't here to put her to bed?" She questioned as she moved behind the little cover up area to get into some fresh pyjamas, throwing her salt watered hair into a ponytail.

"She was alright I guess, we only had pan (bread) and some chocolate spread for dinner, there's nothing else." He sighed as he rubbed his face, looking over his hands that were covering his mouth. His eyes were telling her everything she already knew.

"I know Malachi, and I'm sorry for not being here tonight, I know that doesn't help anything. I'll ask John if I can do nine till seven instead of nine till four." She whispered as she crawled onto her bed, being careful to not wake up Lexi.

"Okay, I'll see if I can get a side job at the corner shop by the laundrettes," he commented as she heard him slowly lower himself back down, huddling under the covers to get the warmth that the house was lacking, no matter how hot it is in the summer.

"Night Carms."

"Buenas noches (Goodnight) Mali."

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She ended up waking up the next day at eight in the morning, her body screaming at her from the events of the day before. Emotionally and physically, she was exhausted. After last nights conversation with Malachi, she could practically feel the weight of her worries on her shoulders.

Her chest ached with anxiety as she got dressed into her work uniform, feeing her stomach twist as she pretended to act like she wasn't on the verge of an anxiety attack. Normally, she could push it to the back of her mind and make it look like she had everything under control but this time, she could feel it slipping from her fingers.

Taking deep breathes that didn't do what she hoped they would, she left her house after leaving a gentle kiss on Lexi's forehead. Carmen didn't have her driving license yet and she wasn't planning on getting one unless it was absolutely necessary, way too scared to be behind a wheel, and it's not like she could afford a car anyways.

So she took off walking, heading in the direction of the small cafe that sat along the dock. The bell rang above her as she entered her work place, greeting her co-worker, Lela Hammons, before setting up behind the till.

Only seven hours to go.

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