It's been about four days since Ares left and I havent responded to any of his messages. His calls have gone unanswered as well.

It's not that I don't want to talk to him. I do. But everytime I pick up the phone to call or text, the words die on my lips.

There isn't anything left for us now that he's gone back home. I can't do long distance and neither of us are willing to move. Texting him back will only hurt both of us, right?

Right.

But despite my resolve to not talk to him, I can't help but wonder how he's doing, what he's up to. It's an ache that I can't shake, an emptiness that only grows as the days pass.

I've spent the last few days throwing myself into school and work, trying to distract myself from the gaping hole in my heart. It's not working, but it's all I can do.

As I sit at my desk, surrounded by textbooks and notes for an upcoming exam, my phone lights up again with a message from Ares. I hesitate, staring at it, feeling a mix of longing and pain. The screen goes dark before I make a move to read it.

In a moment of weakness, I unlock my phone and open the messages, reading through them one by one. Each word feels like a punch to the gut, a reminder of what I'm trying to leave behind.

I lock my phone back and head to the coffee shop. I have finals coming up and I need caffine to survive. I can't focus on my studies with all these thoughts running through my head.

I walk inside, the aroma of coffee and pastries filling the air.

The barista greets me with a smile. "What can I get you?"

"A caramel latte and a chocolate croissant," I reply, forcing a smile.

She rings up my order and I hand her my card. She swipes it, and then swipes it again.

"Um," she starts hesitantly. "Do you have another card? This one isn't working."

"Can you try it again?" I ask, my heart sinking.

"I already did," she says, holding up the card. "It's been declined."

My cheeks flush red as I rummage through my wallet for another card. Why isn't my card working? This has never happened before. Maybe I need a new one?

I quickly rummage through my bag until I find the card Ares gave me. I've been avoiding using it. I didn't want him to financially support me, so I've acted like this card didn't exsist. But it's my only option now.

I hand the barista the card, praying that it works. She runs it, and to my relief, it does.

"Here you go," she says, handing me the card and my order.

"Thank you," I say, taking the items.

I find an empty table and sit down. Taking a sip of the latte, I let the warmth soothe me.

I pull out my phone, opening it to my banking app. I can request a new card and pick it up on my way home. When I log into my account though, I immediatly realize the problem wasn't with my card. Well, it was. But only because my balance is zero. What the fuck is going on? This account always has tens of thousands of dollars in it. It's the account that held my college fund.

Realization dawns on me. She wouldn't. Would she? I know my mother and I have had our problems, more so recently than normal, but she wouldn't dare go this far, would she?

I quickly pull up her number and call her. My blood is boiling, and I can barely contain my rage.

"Hello, Emma," she says, answering on the first ring.

"Mother," I hiss, struggling to keep my voice even. "What did you do?"

"I don't know what you mean," she replies, her tone innocent.

"You know exactly what I mean. My account. Why is it empty? You're the only one with access."

She lets out a huff, her annoyance clear. "Well, it was my money. I just took it back. I needed it."

"For what?" I demand, gripping my phone tighter.

"Don't you worry about it," she snaps, her tone cold.

"What the hell. That's my college fund!"

"You're practically done with college now. Plus, if you want to act like an adult with Ares, you can be an adult with your own finances," she says.

"Are you kidding me? This is not fair. You're being ridiculous," I say, standing up.

"Life isn't fair. Get over it. I didn't raise you to be so whiny," she says.

"Goodbye, mother," I say, ending the call.

I'm so angry, I can barely breathe.

My hands are shaking as I try to process the conversation. The coffee shop around me blurs into a meaningless backdrop as the weight of my mother's actions crashes down on me. She's taken everything. My college fund, my security, gone in a moment of spite.

I've been avoiding her since the day she found out anout me and Ares, but now I would be happy to never see her again.

I try to take a deep breath, to calm the storm inside me, but it's hard. I'm suddenly faced with a financial uncertainty that I never anticipated. I thought I had a safety net, a cushion to fall back on as I navigated my final year of college and the transition into full independence. But now, that's all been ripped away.

I have Ares's card, but I don't want to use it more than I have to.

Anger burns hotly inside me, but beneath that anger is fear. Fear of what comes next, of how I'll manage my finances now. I've always been careful with money, but I never imagined I'd have to start from scratch like this.

I have my private savings account, the one my mother doesn't know about, but I really didn't want to touch it. It's the money I've saved from my freelance jobs and it's what I was going to use to take my graduation trip. I know I must sound whiny, but I was really looking foward to that trip.

After a few minutes spent trying to steady my racing heart, I realize I can't just sit here. I need to take action, to figure out a plan. But first, I need to confront the full scope of the situation.

Pulling my laptop from my bag, I log into my student account to review my tuition status and upcoming expenses. Everything is paid up for this semester, so at least I don't have to worry about that. My car payment and living expenses are a different story, though.

I can't let this defeat me. I close my laptop with a snap and finish my latte in one long gulp. I need to think, to plan. I need to get out of my mother's house. I need to get away from her. I need to figure out my car payments, my phone bill, and figure out how much I can afford for rent.

My phone, still lying on the table, seems to mock me with its silence. Ares. I wonder if I should tell him what's happened. No, I quickly decide. This is my problem, not his. I can't-and won't-rely on him to bail me out. I need to handle this on my own.

But there's a small voice in the back of my head that whispers, "What if you don't have to do this alone?" I push it away, focusing instead on the practical steps I need to take.

I gather my things, tucking my phone and laptop back into my bag. Standing, I feel a bit steadier, a bit more ready to face this challenge head-on. It's going to be hard, possibly the hardest thing I've ever done. But I'm determined to make it through, to prove to myself-and to my mother-that I can stand on my own two feet.

As I step out of the coffee shop into the cool evening air, I let out a long breath, trying to release some of the tension that's built up. I can do this. I have to.

***

The next day, I'm a nervous wreck. My first class went well enough, but I can't seem to focus. Alex notices, but doesn't ask questions.

I keep thinking about the financial mess I'm in and the lack of support from my mother. It's frustrating and infuriating, and I can't help but feel a sense of betrayal. After everything I've done for her, all the support I've given her over the years, she has the audacity to throw it back in my face.

As I walk to my next class, I can't help but think of Ares. He'd be able to fix this. He'd have a solution, or at the very least, a kind word. But he's gone, and I'm on my own.

The afternoon classes drag by, and I spend most of them staring at the clock. When the last bell finally rings, I can't wait to get home and relax. But home isn't actually home, is it? I would go and stay at a hotel or something, but I would be using money I can't afford to waste.

When I finally arrive at the house, I'm greeted by an icy silence. My mother is nowhere to be found, and Archer is holed up in his study, as usual. I sigh and head upstairs, hoping for some quiet time alone.

As soon as I walk through the door, the tears begin to flow. It's been a long day, and I just can't hold them back any longer.

I curl up on my bed and let the sobs wrack my body, feeling completely overwhelmed. How did I get here? How did my life end up like this?

It's not like this is the first time my mom and I have fought. We've always had our ups and downs. But this feels different. This feels like the beginning of the end.

I'm not sure how long I cry for, but eventually, I manage to get a hold of myself. My face is red and puffy, and my eyes are swollen, but I feel a little better. At least now, I can think a bit more clearly.

The first thing I need to do is figure out my finances. I need to see exactly how much money I have and how much I can realistically afford to spend. Then, I can make a plan.

I take a deep breath and open my bank app. There's not a lot there, but it's enough to cover my expenses for a while. I have a little money left in my savings, but I want to save that for emergencies.

I do some quick calculations, and it looks like I can survive on what I have for a few months, if I'm careful. And if I find somewhere cheap to move to. But it won't last forever. I need a more permanent solution.

I'll pick up more freelance work, but I don't have time for an actual job until after graduation. And that's only three months away.

My chest feels tight and my palms are sweaty. How did things get so bad, so quickly?

I wish Ares were here. His steady, reassuring presence would help calm me down. But he's not, and I have to deal with this on my own.

I pick up my laptop and search for rentals near me. As expected, the prices are high, and I won't be able to afford anything decent.

Then, I see a post for a room to rent in a shared apartment. It's in a nice neighborhood, and the price is reasonable. I send off an inquiry right away, hoping for a good response.

I wait nervously for a reply, my thoughts spinning in circles.

Finally, after what feels like an eternity, my phone chimes. I open the email, and my heart sinks. The room has been rented to someone else.

I slump back against the pillows, feeling defeated. It's not the end of the world, but it's a reminder that I'm not in control. My life, as much as I'd like to pretend otherwise, is in a state of flux.

I can't afford the luxury of time or choice. I need a plan, and I need it fast.