Promises and Pomegranates by Sav R. Miller

convent after everything you’ve pulled.”
Their shouts echo off the walls, bouncing against the ceiling and
bounding back down to us before trailing off and silencing entirely. Stella
shifts uncomfortably, glancing over her shoulder at Mamá.
Sighing, Mamá takes a step forward, putting her hand on Stella’s
shoulder. It’s the kind of comforting gesture I might have gotten a few
months ago, but that is decidedly absent right now, despite the stories I’ve
heard of how badly Mamá was missing me all this time.
When she steps into Stella, I slide my foot to the side and step into Kal,
finding solace in the sturdy feel of his body against mine and that cinnamon
and whiskey scent that somehow clings to him.
Mamá catches the movement, narrowing her eyes at me. “Stella, carina,
why don’t you run upstairs and get a head start on some of your finals? I’m
sure your world history essay won’t write itself.”
Stella scoffs. “If only.” She hesitates for a moment, looking at me with an
uncertain gaze, like she isn’t sure if she should leave me.
“Your sister will still be here tomorrow, I’m sure,” Mamá offers, pushing
Stella toward the stairs. “Run along now.”
After giving me a last air-stealing hug, Stella disappears in the same
direction Papá and Ari went, the dull thud of her sneakers the only sound for
several minutes. Then, a door slams shut, and suddenly it’s just the three of
us, drowning in silence.