Broken ties

Chapter 1

The alarm blares at 5:30 AM, and I swat at it like always. Mom used to joke that I'd sleep through an earthquake. Used to. Even simple thoughts like these still sting, three months later.

The coffee maker gurgles to life - Dad's old machine that I still can't seem to master. The smell reminds me of Sunday mornings, when he'd make his "famous" French toast. Now it's just me, trying to remember which button does what.

"Lucas!" I call out, hearing only teenage grumbles in response. "You'll be late again!"

My reflection catches my eye as I pass the hallway mirror. At twenty-three, I shouldn't have these worry lines already. My dark hair is messily tied up, and the circles under my eyes tell stories of sleepless nights and endless responsibilities.

Lucas finally emerges, his school uniform wrinkled. "I can get ready myself, Emma. I'm not a kid."

"Your tie's crooked," I say, reaching to fix it. He steps back, fixing it himself with a scowl that breaks my heart a little. He looks so much like Dad when he's annoyed.

The morning rushes by in a blur of packed lunches, forgotten homework, and quick bites of toast. Before I know it, I'm hurrying to The Daily Grind, where I've been working as a barista for the past two years. At least my manager, Sarah, understands my situation.

"You're just in time," Sarah says as I tie my apron. "Morning rush is about to start."

The familiar dance begins - espresso shots, steamed milk, friendly smiles that hide my exhaustion. Each cup I make is one step closer to paying this month's bills. The rhythm of the coffee shop almost makes me forget everything else, until-

"Emma? You okay?" Sarah's voice snaps me back. I've been staring at an empty cup for who knows how long.

"Yeah, just tired," I lie, forcing a smile. The truth is, I'd spotted a father and daughter at table seven, sharing a muffin and laughing. Mom and I used to do that here, every Thursday before her hospital shift.

The morning rush fades into a steady stream of regulars. Mr. Chen with his precise order of green tea at exactly 180 degrees. The college students with their laptops and endless refills. The business people who barely look up from their phones.

My phone buzzes. Lucas.

"Forgot my science project. Can you bring it at lunch?"

I close my eyes, counting to ten. The project he spent all weekend on sits on our kitchen table, exactly where I told him not to leave it. Being his sister and his parent is an impossible line to walk.

"I'll try," I text back, already calculating if I can make it home and back during my thirty-minute break.

Sarah catches my expression. "Family stuff?"

"Just Lucas being Lucas."

She hesitates, then says what everyone says: "Your parents would be proud, you know. Taking care of him, keeping it all together."

I nod, not trusting my voice. They say time heals all wounds, but some days the grief feels as fresh as the night we got the call about the accident. Some days, I want to scream that I'm not ready for any of this - being a guardian, paying bills, making all the decisions.

But I can't fall apart. Lucas needs me to be strong. He's lost enough already.

The morning continues, and I lose myself in the familiar motions. Grind, tamp, pull, steam. Smile, serve, repeat. Each drink is a small victory, a moment of normalcy in a life that stopped being normal the day two police officers showed up at our door.

A new customer catches my eye - tall, kind face, orders a simple black coffee. He smiles, and for a moment, I forget about everything else. Then my phone buzzes again - Lucas's school - and reality crashes back in.

This is my life now. Coffee beans and responsibility. Trying to be both sister and mother to a grieving teenager. Missing my parents so much it physically hurts. But somehow, we keep going. One day at a time. One cup of coffee at a time.

I check the clock - four hours until I can deliver Lucas's project. Six until my shift ends. Nine until I can finally collapse into bed, only to do it all again tomorrow.

But first, there's another customer waiting, another drink to make, another smile to fake. I take a deep breath and reach for a fresh cup. That's when I see him walk in - James. Tall, confident, with that crooked smile that would soon turn my world upside down. He orders a vanilla latte, and I have no idea that this simple coffee order will lead to the biggest betrayal of my life.

"Perfect timing," he says, and I smile, not knowing how wrong he is.