He hits a few buttons on the register and slips the card inside the chip reader again. I keep a ten-dollar bill in my wallet for emergencies, but if I can’t get Nate to come around before Thursday, I’ll have no way of getting back into the city.

I see that my card has been declined again, but can’t bear to hear the words, so I jump in before he meets my gaze again. “Actually, can you just do the water and the noodles? I’m not even that hungry.”

He looks at me for a second, then gestures to the sandwich. “I already made it, Mami. Let me try it one more time.”

We both know how futile this third attempt is, but I stay silent as he inserts my card into the machine again. It doesn’t go through.

“Sorry,” I tell him, wishing I could evaporate. “That’s all I have.”

I turn away to leave, but he calls out to me and pushes the bag toward me, insisting I take it anyway. I thank him and keep my eyes averted when I grab the handles of the plastic bag.

My equilibrium is completely off when I turn out of the store. I need something in my stomach right now. I open the bag and hustle with the wrapper to get a bite of my sandwich, but as soon as I bring it to my mouth, I’m thwarted by a massive man running for the bus zooming past. I watch him bang on the back doors hard enough for the driver to brake and then look at my sandwich mingling with the puddle of rainwater from last night’s shower. Before I can even consider picking it up and attempting to salvage the bottom half, a pair of pigeons waddle over and claim it as their lunch.

By the time I push back into my room, the urge to cry has subsided, though the feeling of defeat hasn’t. It’s not just the sandwich. It’s everything I’ve lost in such a short amount of time. My internship. A potential summer gig. My apartment. Nate.

I should have listened to him, should have heeded his warning about Taylor. But I had to be stupid and play her game, accept not only her money, but her friends’ bribes too.