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“Unfortunately, you won’t be able to stay there unless you get a job. But based on the cost, you would need a high-paying job just for the rent.”
I nod, feeling numb, because why not lose my parents and my home?
Walter clears his throat again, shifting in his seat. “You two are in school, I hear?”
We both nod.
“Unfortunately, your parents only paid for the current semester. If you wish to continue school, you will need to save the money yourself.”
Hunter nods, but I hold back the need to laugh.
I’ve spent years not working because my parents wanted me to focus on school and get good grades they can show off to their friends. That included them paying for an apartment I didn’t ask for because staying in dorms was beneath them. I could have done all of this, but instead I listened to my parents and what they wanted.
Where are they now?
I clench my fists, thinking of how little shit matters in the end, how little what you have and what you do matters.
Hunter speaks up and I focus back in on the conversation. “So we don’t even have the house?”
Walter sighs at that. “Unfortunately, your parents were struggling to keep up with payments for your house. Unless you have a relative that has some money to help-“
“We have no one,” I cut in, knowing the bomb he is going to drop on us.
Pity looks back at me, and I grit my teeth as he says, “Then I’m afraid the house will be put up for auction. You will need to collect your belongings and vacate the premises by the end of the month. I’m so sorry for your loss, for everything.”
Funny thing is, I believe him, but it does nothing to help us now.
I’ve been walkingaround in a fog since the end of the meeting, only coming up for air when Hunter suggests we get something to eat, but I know it's a ploy that'll be used to talk to me about what we will do. But I don’t need to talk, I already know. But I go on and follow Hunter in silence as we enter a tiny cafe a few minutes from the lawyer's office, smelling very strongly of coffee and chocolate. If comfort had a smell, this would be it.
After ordering, we sit with our coffees at a small round table, wrapping our hands around our mugs as I feel Hunter's eyes on me, waiting.
“How you feeling, Mia?” Hunter asks for the first time since telling me our parents died, and I lift my eyes to give him a deadpan look. He nods, understanding. “Stupid question.”
We sit in silence for a few more minutes before Hunter breaks it, when he finally asks, “So, what do you wanna do?”
He doesn't need to clarify; I know what he means. “I need to think.”
My whole life has been turned on its head. My childhood home gone, my apartment gone too, my education, all of it gone while dealing with this loss of my parents.
Hunter’s eyes soften. “What are you thinking about? I know it’s not great to lose our house-“
I scoff. “It’s just a house.”
Hunter blinks again, confused by my harsh words before leaning in to me. “It is our home, Mia.”
I lean in. “And what memories do we have there? What about the one where Dad gave you the silent treatment for losing a football game? Or what about the one where our parents had friends over so we had to hide upstairs? Name one good memory our parents gave us in that house.”
His jaw tenses. “Mia, they are dead.”
“Yes, so what, we have to pretend they were the best parents ever now?” I sit back, crossing my arms over my chest, letting some of my anger slip through the cracks.
“They were not, but they were all we had.”
“You don’t think I know that,” I say, taking in the sadness in Hunter's eyes, the sadness he is trying to keep together.
“Look, I understand you don’t like the house, and we will work together to sort it out. But what about you?”
I sit up a little straighter in my chair. “What about me?”
