y still hung in the air

chen table. His hea

Said he was meeting

game," he'

mach t

asked. My voice wa

k up. His sho

g, Sarah.

ds hit

housand

o

e fund. Every penny we'

itis surgery. She coul

ear's mortgage payments on

Wiped out

at me. His eyes

... I'm s

hair. Knelt on th

eamed dow

ar. I'll work double shift

ared at h

ounted every dollar, who worked his hand

's childhood friend. A leech. A good-for-nothing wh

en, Mike?" I ask

r pots. Just... friendly. Then Jak

ice cr

er. I kept thinking

y. The oldest

a man like Jake who probably didn't have

ng wasn

d in years, started to click. Ol

Mike," I said. It

nfused. "What? No.

at kind of money to win, or to cover if he lost big hi

eyes slowly turned

ike. Honest. Hardworkin

Her piggy bank, a ceramic

a few folded bills. Her savings from birthday

chen. Mike was still on t

on the counter. Coin

dollars. Mostly ones and f

ey, then at me. "Sarah

he cash int

ow. The numbness was gone. Replaced

g to pay Ja

"No, Sarah. Please. I

oked at him, my eyes locking onto his. "They th

lly by my watch or sleeve, throbbed faintly. A ghost from a

're w