Chapter 15: Hotline

Monday started sideways.

The produce order was short. The fryer broke. Richie accidentally double-booked a delivery. And Ebra called in sick with a cryptic text that just said, "My spirit is not safe in this building today."

Sydney was trying to troubleshoot the flat-top, Carmy was yelling into his phone about suppliers, and Marcus spilled an entire vat of lemon curd on the walk-in floor.

Chiara kept going. She wiped, patched, soothed.

But she didn't breathe.

Not really.

⟡𓌉◯𓇋₊˚⊹♡

By mid-rush, the tickets were backed up. The kitchen felt tight — airless. One of the brunch customers complained about a wait time. Loudly. Carmy barked, "We don't do fast casual here, man," and nearly walked off the line.

Chiara grabbed a side towel. Gripped it hard.

It wasn't just the chaos.

It was that she could feel herself disappearing into it.

⟡𓌉◯𓇋₊˚⊹♡

She held it together until the end of service.

When the last plate went out and the last pot hit the sink, Chiara walked into the dry storage, sat between a crate of beans and a stack of vinegar boxes, and finally let herself cry.

Not loud.

Not messy.

But real.

⟡𓌉◯𓇋₊˚⊹♡

She called Luca at 11:42 p.m., still curled up in her corner. She didn't even say hello.

"I want to come home," she whispered.

A pause. Then his voice, gentle and sure.

"You are home."

She swallowed. "I don't know how to be what they need every day. I hold everyone together and there's never anything left."

Another pause. Then:

"You don't have to hold everyone. That's not love. That's martyrdom."

Chi closed her eyes. "But what if they fall apart without me?"

"And what if they don't?" Luca said softly. "What if they surprise you?"

⟡𓌉◯𓇋₊˚⊹♡

There was silence between them — the good kind. The kind that comes from being heard.

Then he added:

"Chiara... I miss you every second. I want you here. But I also want you to choose this life. Not run to it when you're tired."

She nodded, even though he couldn't see her.

"I just needed to hear your voice."

"You've got it. Any hour. Any day. You are not alone in this."

She breathed out — really breathed this time — and leaned her head against the shelf.

"Thank you."

"Now go sleep. You're still fireproof, but even fireproof things need rest."

⟡𓌉◯𓇋₊˚⊹♡

The next morning, Chiara came in before the sun.

Still tired.

But steady.

She didn't smile when she didn't feel like it.

Didn't clean up every mess right away.

And for the first time, someone else noticed.

Marcus brought her coffee. Sydney had already prepped her station. Even Richie asked if she was okay — without sarcasm.

Maybe Luca was right.

Maybe she didn't have to hold everything.

Maybe letting go was a kind of trust, too.

⟡𓌉◯𓇋₊˚⊹♡

END OF CHAPTER 15

Hope you liked this chapter — From my heart to the line, thanks for reading. See you at the next service.

— Liz