Promises and Pomegranates by Sav R. Miller

so I’ve been using them. The kind of people who don’t even notice, you
know?”
I just look at her, and she nods.
“Right, you know.” Clearing her throat, she scoots to the end of her seat.
“In any case, I wanted to come find you, because I felt bad about how I acted
earlier in the spring. You were only trying to help, and I shouldn’t have been
such a bitch. It’s just... money is kind of a touchy subject.”
“It usually is.”
“And I’m... sorry I’m not in a place right now where we can... get to
know each other. Family is just—”
“A touchy subject.” I hold my hand up, stopping her before the knife
drives right through my chest. “I get it, Violet.”
Neither of us says anything else for several beats, and then she’s pushing
to her feet, tucking her braids behind her ears. “Well. In any case, that’s all I
wanted to say. I’m a firm believer in apologies, even if they do damage your
pride.”
She starts to step off the patio, goodbye on her tongue, when another,
completely different voice cuts through the air, making her freeze in place.
“What the fuck is this?”