When Love Comes Late by PASSION

Her heart sank like a stone.

She crumpled to the floor, hugging her knees, tears pouring out.

After a bit, she mustered the strength to dial her older brother, Karson Padilla.

“Karson, something’s up with Mom…”

Her voice raspy, she struggled to get the words out, but all she got back was a cacophony of noise.

Finally, Karson’s impatient voice pierced through, booming, “Who’s this? I can’t talk now, busy!”

Devyn caught wind of the chatter on his end, betting odds being tossed around.

Her eyes widened, frustration boiling over.

“Karson! How… how could you gamble again?”

She’d hoped he’d learned his lesson after all those tough times.

But she never imagined that with their mom still fighting in the ICU, Karson would hit the tables again.

Devyn, burst out, “Chill,

time’s going to be different; we’ll be back on top

voice, frenzied like a junkie chasing a high,

with madness, filled the air, leaving Devyn’s

the

relying on gambling to fix things? Haven’t you learned from past mistakes? Do you have to push it till you crash? Keep going

she got back was the same old busy signal

at her phone in disbelief, tears clouding her

it so tight, she nearly crushed

a while, her

Maureen, pale in the ICU, determination in her

had to be the

out a USB flash

data from Stella’s computer earlier, including some of her designs, all stashed in

time to waste

tackle all her

forwarded Devyn’s latest

Matthew couldn’t