Alexander stared at a crack in the ceiling while lying on the old sofa and every time he blinked his parents’ faces flickered back since it had been eight years since the accident. That hole they left hadn’t closed an inch while voices from the kitchen cut through the quiet.

"There’s no money left Helen we’re short every month because of that boy" said Robert with a voice low and sharp.

"He’s my sister’s son Robert he’s our responsibility" said Helen while her voice shook.

"Yours not mine I’m sick of it why am I losing my Hawaii trip for an orphan I’ve fed the brat for eight years it’s enough he needs to get out" said Robert.

Alexander felt his chest tighten because he wasn’t family but a line in a budget that didn’t balance. He checked the clock seeing one hour until his shift at 7-Eleven and although he needed to shower his limbs felt like lead. His phone vibrated and it was Marcus.

"Alex pick up the damn phone!" said Marcus the second the call connected.

"I’m heading to work Marcus I don’t have time for this" said Alexander.

"Forget the 7-Eleven I’m giving you the only shot you’ll ever get, what’s worth more breaking your back for scraps or making real money?" said Marcus with breathing that sounded heavy and jagged.

"What are you talking about you’ve been dodging me for a year about your job" said Alexander as he sat up slowly.

"Screw that I’m in a bind I had a car accident nothing serious but I’m stuck and I need you to cover a VIP client for me a delivery but not the kind you’re thinking" said Marcus.

"Marcus I have a shift in an hour I’m literally stepping into the shower" said Alexander.

"Listen I’ll pay you ten times your daily rate twelve hundred dollars Alex just for three hours" said Marcus.

Alexander froze because twelve hundred was more than a month of sweating behind a counter "Twelve hundred you’re joking" said Alexander.

"I don’t have time to joke put on your best clothes not that cheap crap the stuff you use for your plays I’m sending an address you have three hours don’t let me down or we’re both dead" said Marcus.

The line went dead and Alexander stared at the screen thinking twelve hundred dollars was enough to stop being a burden for a while. The shower curtain ripped back as Alexander stepped into the spray turning the handle to force the heat up until the air got thick and hard to breathe. Steam blinded everything and when he cleared a spot on the glass he hated the face staring back which was wrecked with messy hair and deep dark circles. He didn’t look like a student anymore but just looked old "First impressions don’t screw this up" said Alexander.

He went to his room and tore through the closet where everything was trash with faded shirts and jeans with worn-out knees until he reached under the bed. He pulled out the charcoal suit from his drama club days which was the only thing he owned that wasn’t garbage. It was tight making his shoulders feel restricted but in the mirror he didn’t look like a broke orphan anymore but someone worth a damn.

He pulled up his banking app with a thumb shaking a little and saw $1,320 because Marcus had actually dropped the $1,200 like it was nothing "Okay let’s do this I gotta move" said Alexander feeling a weird rush of adrenaline.

He grabbed his keys and headed for the kitchen door then stopped, Helen was there leaning over the sink with a blank stare. She had those white capris on and the way she was hunched made the fabric pull tight over her curves showing the exact shape of her underwear. It was a hell of a view and he couldn’t force his eyes away "Aunt Helen I’m heading out for a bit don’t wait up" said Alexander with a throat feeling dry.

"Yeah be careful okay?" said Helen without even turning around and her voice sounded like it was coming from a mile away totally empty.

Alexander stood there for a heartbeat with his hand on the doorframe because it killed him to see her like that. Since he was a kid she’d been the only one who actually gave a shit about him while Robert treated him like a damn parasite and seeing her spirit broken by that man made his chest ache. He wasn’t just doing this for the cash but so he could finally do something for her.