125

ADELINE

It’s kind of amazing, honestly — how every step hurts like I’m walking on nails. I can barely breathe by the time I flip the sign to CLOSED and collapse into the nearest chair. It’s not even noon.

“I think I need to hire help,” I mutter, tying my curls into a messy knot. It’s freezing outside — cold enough to make my toes ache — but I’m sweating like I just ran a marathon through hell.

Kat