“And you?” I ask.

“I’ll be here trying to figure out what the hell is going on.”

Taking a deep breath, I glance back at the screen showing a photo of Ariana. At least it will be an easy job watching her.

ARIANA

I dial my dad’s number hoping I’ll get to talk to him. The line connects, and it just rings before going to his voicemail.

“Hi, Dad. I just wanted to check in on you. Give me a call when you get the message. I hope you’re feeling better. Love you.”

Letting out a sigh, I end the call and open my messaging app to send my brother a text.

Ariana: Hi, I hope you’re doing okay. I tried to call Dad, but he didn’t answer. How is he?

It shows the text is delivered, and knowing Yuri probably won’t answer soon, I grab my kindle and settle on the couch.

I’m reading a romance by one of my favorite authors. She always makes me laugh with the hilarious scenes she writes.

The book’s about a girl who keeps running into a man and fights with him every time. He ends up being her boss.

I begin to read where it’s the girl’s first day on the job, and she’s about to learn the pain in her ass is her boss. Soon I’m cracking up as I get lost in their world.

After reading for three hours, I put down my kindle so I can go for my walk.

The weather is growing colder with winter just around the corner, so I grab my coat for the ride to where I usually park my scooter near the entrance to the forest.

The ride is only fifteen minutes, and there are two other cars in the parking area. I check my backpack to make sure I have my phone, a bottle of water, and my sandwich, then walk toward the trail that leads to a picnic area overlooking the ocean.

Birds chirp in the treetops, and dead leaves crunch under my sneakers. I love this trail because it’s quiet, and I get to forget about my worries for a little while.

The hike takes me forty minutes, but there are two couples by the picnic area, so I head down to the stretch of beach. The ocean is calm today, and sitting down on a rock, I take the water and sandwich from my backpack.

Instead of forgetting my worries, they’re the first thing I think of as I stare out into the distance.

With Mom in the nursing home and Dad sick, I feel more alone than I ever have. Yes, I still have Yuri, but we hardly talk to each other.

Mom was never close with her side of the family, so I don’t know any of them.

Right now, it’s just me, and it’s a scary place to be at twenty-three. I have no support system in place. I have no one to call if I get into trouble.