"You alright, Vera?" A familiar face leaned on the counter.

   "Yeah, I'll be fine. I'm worried about Aust though."

   "Kid's got some stuff he's dealing with, huh."

   I nodded. "He's got a family to raise. Maybe he's just really tired. I want to call him to make sure he got home, but I might be invading his privacy."

   "Sometimes waiting is the only choice we have," a girl stood beside my friend. "And other times, we have to brave the waters even if there's a chance of drowning."

   She looked oddly familiar too.

   "You're right." I agreed instantly. "Aust doesn't have many people to rely on. As his boss... and I’d like to think, a friend, I want to be there for him."

   I took out my phone and dialed Aust's number. It kept ringing, but he didn't pick up.

   "Can you take care of the shop for a bit, Sebastian?"

   "Are you returning it to my family?" He joked.

   "Of course not! This is only temporary."

   "Off to chase this kid?" The girl tilted her head and smiled.

   Really, she looked uncannily like someone I'd met before. I'm usually good with faces.

   "Just go. We'll handle Uri Story."

   I didn't need the extra push as I pulled out Aust's file and jotted down his address. Really, I was just worried as his boss... I think.

   He's looked so troubled for the past month.

   I just wanted to know.

   I wanted to break his wall and to know his story... to be a part of it.

   As my feet took me to my car, I felt a sense of freedom. My heart was racing like it never had before.

   I thought my story started a long time ago.

   "He's not home, Vera." Al welcomed me into their small apartment.

   "Have you had dinner?" I asked.

   "We had pizza."

   "Is Aria in bed?"

   "Yeah. I put her to bed thirty minutes ago. You wanna sit?"

   The couch looked worn. The walls of the apartment had yellowish tints not from the paint. The vinyl floor was peeling in certain places.

   "Are you going to wait up for him?" I followed up after making myself comfortable on the sinking seat of the couch.

   "Nah. He has a key. He's probably driving people. Share ride, you know."

   "Does he do that all the time?"

   "Whenever he gets off early, he picks up a few of them. Aust works a lot."

   "Are you and Aria often left alone?"

   "Yeah.” Al looked alarmed. “I-I mean, no."

   "I'm not a social worker, Al. And I don't plan to have you both separated from your brother."

   He sighed with relief. "Aust has to pick up a lot of jobs cause of the bills and stuff. So, I have to take care of the house whenever he's not home."

   "Do you also always take care of Aria when Aust isn't home?"

   "Of course! She's like a baby still."

   "You've done well," I said, patting his head.

   Al sniffed and turned away. "I know."

   "Why don't you sleep now too? I'll wait for Aust on my own."

   "I can't leave a guest by themself!" Al plopped beside me. "Have to be hospitalable."

   "Hospitable."

   "How do you spell that?"

   Al and I waited for Aust who never came home.

   "Let's get you both washed up!"

   "The water's cold, Vera." Aria told me.

   "Oh, what's wrong with the water heater?"

   "Probably broken still," Al responded just before yawning. "Aust usually heats up water there."

   "Oh, okay. I'll do that."

   "Where's breakfast?" Aria sat at the table.

   "Were you not going to shower?"

   "It'll take a while to boil," Al pointed again at a pot. "So, Aust makes us eat breakfast while we wait."

   I hadn't prepared breakfast and looking at the fridge, I didn't think there was anything edible.

   "What do you usually eat?"

   "Cereal!" They said together.

   "I'll help," Al added when I struggled to find the boxes.

   "What do you eat for breakfast?" Aria played with her bowl while Al and I took out the cereal.

   "Me? I eat toasted bread with jam most of the time, but when I feel a little fancy, I'll make pancakes matched with eggs and bacon."

   "Ooh! Bacon. Do you eat that a lot?" Al looked very interested.

   "We only get to eat that on Christmas." Aria poured her own cereal, spilling a few pieces that Al picked up from the floor and popped into his bowl.

   I didn't have the heart to tell him it was dirty. It must be something he often did.

   "Why don't I get you another breakfast today?" I offered just as the water started to boil.

   "Second breakfast." Aria grinned.

   "What are we, hobbits?" Al laughed.

   I laughed too. "You've watched the films?"

   They nodded. "Our parents were big fans. We have the full trilogy, but I always fall asleep on the first movie."

   Aria busied herself with the rest of her cereal.

   "Aria will wash first!" She slipped off her chair and dashed to the bathroom.

   "Why did you stay all night?" Al asked when his sister left.

   "I was worried." I felt like he needed an honest answer.

   "We do just fine."

   "I see that."

   "But I couldn't have boiled the water."

   I grinned. "Then, I was helpful?"

   "Yeah."

   Maybe it was the way they talked about their brother or how the dingy apartment felt like home despite its appearance, either way, I started to miss having a family. Even the cafe I couldn’t imagine without August around.