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.

burst out, “Chill, I

be different;

voice, frenzied like a junkie chasing a

with madness, filled the air, leaving Devyn’s

on the edge of

you lost it? When will you quit relying on gambling to fix things? Haven’t you learned from past

was the same

phone in disbelief, tears

it so tight, she nearly crushed

a while, her emotions settled a

pale in

she had to be the one Maureen

USB

Stella’s computer earlier, including some of her

time to waste

designs, she could tackle all her

forwarded Devyn’s

it, Matthew