Glass Hearts [BL]

The hallway felt like it was closing in as the two child services workers stepped in front of us.

"Mr. Rivera, please," Ms. Daniels said softly. "We just need a moment with your sister."

I pulled Alia closer, my hand trembled around hers. "No. We’re leaving."

Mr. Owens’ voice was firmer. "Mr Rivera, you’ll leave us no choice."

Alia’s voice cut through, shaking a bit. "You’re not taking me away from my brother!" Her eyes were already filling with tears.

"Alia..." Ms. Daniels crouched slightly, trying to make her voice gentle. "Sweetheart, no one wants to hurt you. We just want to be sure you’re okay."

Alia’s face buried into my arm. "I said I’m fine! I don’t wanna talk to you!"

My voice came out louder than I intended. "You heard her. She’s fine. She’s safe. She’s with me. So back off. Get your filthy hands away from her."

Mr. Owens exhaled, exchanged a look with Ms. Daniels. "You can’t run from this. We’ll be back. And when we do, we’ll have paperwork."

I shook my head and laughed. "I’m not running. Come back with all the damn paper in the world...you’re still not touching her."

They finally stepped aside, letting us pass.

When I turned, Mrs. Torres was standing at the entrance to the classroom, with an annoying expression. "Ash," she called softly, "please understand....I wasn’t trying to hurt you. She needs more than you can give alone."

I scoffed at how ridiculous she should. "More than me? You think handing her over to strangers is better than me?" My voice cracked.

"You were supposed to care, Mrs. Torres. You were supposed to protect her. Not...this."

Her eyes softened a bit. She was probably regretting her actions. "I do care. That’s why I made the call."

I shook my head, and walked out without another word.

As we walked to the bus station, Alia’s fingers were clenched so tightly. I forced a smile for her. "Hey. You okay?"

She sniffled. "Ash... why are they saying that? Do they really wanna take me?"

My chest caved in. "They can try. But they’re not taking you away from me. I promise."

Her little voice wobbled. "But... are we in trouble? Did I do something wrong again? I swear I’ve been in my best behavior."

I crouched to her level, brushing her hair back. "No. Don’t you dare think that, honey. You didn’t do anything wrong. None of this is your fault. They just don’t understand us."

Her lip trembled as she nodded, then threw her arms around me. "I don’t want anyone else. I just want you."

I hugged her tight. "And you’ve got me. Always."

On the bus ride home, Alia kept leaning against me, then she whispered, "Ash?"

"Yeah?"

Her big eyes looked up at me. "If they come back... what if they make me go?"

My stomach twisted. I squeezed her hand. "They won’t. You know why?"

She shook her head.

"Because I’ll fight for you. Every time. No matter what it takes."

Her head rested on my shoulder, but she didn’t stop. "Do you think Mrs. Torres hates us? She called them..."

I swallowed hard, staring out the window as the city blurred past. "She doesn’t hate us. She just... doesn’t get it. Some people think they know what’s best when they don’t really see the whole picture."

Alia was quiet again for a moment, then muttered, "I don’t like her anymore."

I sighed and kissed the top of her head. "You don’t have to. But don’t worry about her. Just focus on us, okay?"

She nodded against me, her fingers still locked around mine, she wasn’t ready to let go.

By the time the bus squealed to our stop, I knew one thing for sure....whatever fight was coming, I had to be brave.

The house felt too quiet when we stepped in.

Alia kicked off her shoes and dropped her bag on the floor, still clinging to my sleeve like she was afraid to let go.

"Go wash your hands, okay?" I said gently, trying to sound normal. My voice cracked anyway.

She searched my face for a second, like she didn’t trust my tone, then whispered, "Don’t cry when I’m gone," before heading to the bathroom.

As soon as she was out of sight, I collapsed onto the couch. My phone felt heavy in my hands. I called Dominic. Straight to voicemail. Tried again. Same thing.

"Come on, Dom," I muttered, running my hands over my face. Tried again. Same thing. My chest felt like it was caving in.

So I called June.

She picked up on the first ring. "Hey, babe! I didn’t even see when you left. Ian and I are just heading home....he’s literally stuffing fries into his face while driving. I swear, I’m gonna crash before he does."

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. I couldn’t get a word out.

"Ash?" Her tone sharpened instantly. "Babe? Are you there?"

Something broke. My throat tightened and suddenly I was sobbing into the phone. "June..." My voice shook. "They... they tried to take Alia."

"What?!" she yelled, so loud I had to pull the phone back. "Take

her?! What do you mean take her?" "At school...Mrs. Torres, she called child services." My words came out messy. "They showed up, they said she’s not safe with me, they had videos of the day she went missing..."

My chest hurt so bad I could barely breathe. "I walked out with her but they...they said they’ll come back."

June gasped, then went full chaos mode. "That bitch. That fucking bitch! Oh my god. I swear to God, Ash, I will drag her out of that school by her cheap-ass cardigan and throw her in the gutter."

"June..." I choked out, "I thought she cared. I thought she was helping. But she...she betrayed me. She...she said I wasn’t enough for Alia. That I should let her go into a foster home. I can’t....I don’t know what to do.

There was a shuffle on the line....June cursing at Ian to "shut the fuck up, this is serious."

Then her voice came back. "Is she out of her goddamn mind? Ash, listen to me. Nobody. I repeat no fucking person is taking Alia from you. They’d have to fight through me first. Fuck child services."

A laugh slipped out of me. "June..."

"I’m dead serious," she snapped. "They don’t know shit about what you’ve done for her. You’re basically her mom, dad, and cool older brother rolled into one. And they think they can just waltz in and decide? Nah. They got the wrong family."

I pressed the heel of my hand against my eyes, trying to hold it together. "I don’t know how much longer I can do this."

"You can," she said fiercely. "And you will. Because she’s your girl, Ash. You literally raised her when everyone else bailed, and they think you’re not enough? Nah. Nah. They’re out of their fucking heads."

From the bathroom, Alia’s small voice called, "Ash? Who are you talking to?"

"June," I said quietly.

"Tell her I said hi," Alia said, still in that shaky voice.

June must have heard it, because she softened instantly. "Tell my baby I said hi back. And that I love her. And that I’ll burn down the whole city before I let them touch her."

I let out another broken laugh.

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"So stop crying and breathe. You’re not alone. And no one is going to take her away from you."