Blurred lines in a forbidden fairytale [Taylor x OC]

{47} love beyond the cost

Aurora's POV:

I sit on the couch, watching Taylor pace the room, her face drawn with worry. She runs her fingers through her hair for the tenth time in as many minutes, muttering something under her breath. I know her well enough by now to see how close she is to breaking.

"I have to move," she says finally, stopping and turning to me. Her voice is heavy, like the words themselves are dragging her down. "Ms. Lopez made it clear. If I don't have a bigger place with a proper room for Felicia, there's no way they'll let me have her back."

I sit up straighter, my heart twisting at the desperation in her eyes. "Okay," I say carefully. "So... what do you suggest?"

She lets out a humorless laugh and drops onto the couch beside me, burying her face in her hands. "I don't know," she says, her voice muffled. "I don't have the money for a bigger apartment, let alone a house. Even if I sold everything I own, it wouldn't be enough."
She exhales shakily and leans back against the couch, staring at the ceiling. For a moment, neither of us speaks. I can feel the weight of everything pressing down on her, and I hate that I can't just snap my fingers and fix it.

"Even if I found an affordable place," she says softly, "the rent would be higher. I don't know how I'd manage everything."

"You will," I say firmly. "We'll find a way to make it work. Maybe we can look at apartments that aren't too expensive. Or... maybe I can help."

Her head snaps toward me. "No. Absolutely not. You're not paying for anything, Aurora."

"I didn't say I'd pay," I reply, even though I'd do it in a heartbeat if I could. "But I can help you look for something affordable. And you're not alone in this, okay? You've got me."

Taylor's expression softens, and for the first time since this whole conversation started, a tiny smile flickers on her lips. "You're too good to me, you know that?"

"I know," I tease, nudging her shoulder.

For a moment, the tension in the room eases. But then Taylor's phone buzzes on the coffee table, and her smile fades as quickly as it came. She picks it up, her brows knitting together as she reads the screen.

"What is it?" I ask, leaning closer.

"Another bill," she mutters, tossing the phone back onto the table. "Just another reminder of how screwed I am."

I reach for her hand, lacing my fingers with hers. "You're not screwed," I tell her. "You're going to get Felicia back, Taylor. You're her mom. That means something."

Taylor gets up and takes her laptop before sitting cross-legged back onto the couch, her laptop balanced precariously on her knees, starting to scroll through apartment listings. Every now and then, she pauses, clicks on one, and then groans softly when she sees the price. I sit beside her, chewing my lip, trying to think of something—anything—that could help.

"These prices are...a nightmare," Taylor mutters, closing the laptop and tossing it to the other end of the couch. She leans back against the cushions and lets out a heavy sigh, rubbing her temples. "I don't know how I'm going to do this. I don't even have a steady income right now."

I shift closer to her, resting my hand on her knee. "Okay, let's figure this out," I say gently. "There has to be a way. What about savings? Or... maybe we can sell some stuff?"

Taylor shakes her head. "My savings are almost gone. I've been living off them since the suspension, and I've already sold a bunch of things just to stay afloat. At this point, I'm running on fumes."

Her words hit me like a punch to the chest. I can see the defeat in her eyes, the way she's carrying the weight of everything on her shoulders. It's unbearable to watch.