The clock read ten o'clock at night when William finished his last delivery. The pizzeria had already begun to empty, and the bustle of the day was slowly fading. Tito Pizza, though still with its characteristic smell of freshly baked dough and melted cheese, now seemed quieter, as if it too was resting after another long day.
William left his helmet on the counter and stretched, feeling the fatigue in his shoulders and legs. As he did so, he watched his coworkers finishing their tasks. Sofia, with her inexhaustible energy, was cleaning the cash register, humming a trendy song. Lucas was checking the oven one last time before turning it off, and Layla was arranging the last boxes of pizza on the shelf. It seemed like no one was ready to leave yet, as if extending their time together would make them forget the routine.
— Ready, guys," said William as he approached the delivery station, "Anyone need any help before I run away?
— I can see you, William," said Sofia, not looking up as she wiped the counter. You're going to leave without saying goodbye, aren't you? As usual.
William let out a small laugh and shrugged his shoulders.
— You'd let me leave without saying goodbye?
— Not in your dreams," she replied, pointing at him with the rag in her hand.
Layla appeared behind Sofia, smiling as she leaned against one of the tables.
— Wow, Will. You haven't bothered me that much today, are you tired or are you becoming a responsible delivery boy?
— You're not rid of me yet," William replied, winking at her. I'm just saving my strength for tomorrow.
Layla rolled her eyes, though a small smile tugged at her lips. Their interactions always seemed light, but William couldn't help but feel a slight tension in the air, a faint echo of Sophia's words in the afternoon. Was there really something between them? He shook those thoughts away and focused on saying goodbye.
— Well, guys, it's time to go. It's been a long day and my bed is calling me," he said, faking a big yawn.
Lucas approached from the kitchen, patting him on the shoulder.
— Get some rest, Will. I'll see you tomorrow. And don't be late this time.
— Yes, boss, yes," William replied, raising his hand in a mocking salute.
With a final goodbye, he walked out the door of Tito's Pizza. The night air greeted him with a gentle breeze. As he walked to his motorcycle, he felt relaxed, though a small knot was beginning to form in his stomach. He knew what awaited him at home, and although he didn't say it, he always carried that worry with him.
The trip back to his apartment was short. At that hour, the streets were almost deserted, and the noise of the city had been reduced to a distant murmur. When he reached the building where he lived, he left the motorcycle in its usual place and climbed the steps two at a time, anxious to see his sister.
When he opened the door, he was greeted by the warm aroma of a simple dinner. His younger sister, Emily, was waiting for him at the small kitchen table, her long brown hair pulled back in a braid. Despite her youthful face of barely fifteen, there was a maturity in her eyes that William always noticed, one that shouldn't have been there.
— You're home! -she said with a smile, quickly getting up to serve him a plate of food.
— Yes, I made it. -William closed the door behind him and dropped his backpack on the floor. He sat at the table, watching his sister wait on him, something that always made him feel a little guilty. He should be the one taking care of her, not the other way around.
— How did it go today little brother? -asked Emily as she sat down across from him.
— The usual," William replied, shrugging his shoulders. A lot of work, some jokes, but all good.
Emily smiled, but William noticed something in her eyes, a concern she was trying to hide.
— What about you? -he asked, trying to divert attention, "How was school?
— Fine, fine," Emily answered quickly, although her tone betrayed him. She was hiding something, as she always did when she didn't want to worry him.
William didn't insist. He knew his sister was trying to be strong for him, just as he was trying to be strong for her.
As they ate, his mind began to wander. He remembered the days when school seemed the most important thing to him. He had had big plans, ambitious goals...until everything changed.
He paused in thought, looking at his sister, and a flood of memories washed over him. He remembered the call from the hospital, the doctor explaining to him in technical words he couldn't quite understand, but which in the end summed up a harsh reality: Emily needed urgent surgery. And it wasn't going to be cheap.
It was at that moment that William made a decision. He dropped out of college without a second thought. He couldn't continue studying while his sister was in danger. He needed money and he needed it fast. Both his parents had passed away a few years ago, leaving them with only an apartment. The pizzeria was only a temporary solution, or so he thought at the time. Now, years later, he was still there, delivering pizzas, while his life seemed to be on pause.
Emily watched him silently, as if she could read his thoughts. It was amazing how well she knew him.
— Little brother, don't worry so much about me. I'm fine now," she said, with a small smile that tried to reassure him.
William tried to smile back, but the weight of responsibility never quite went away. His sister was fine, yes, but his decision to abandon his own dreams still haunted him.
— I know, Emily. But I can't help it.
There was a silence between them, a comfortable one, where no more words were needed. They both knew what the other was thinking, and although the subject was always present, they preferred not to delve into it any deeper than necessary.
When they finished eating, William got up and began to pick up the dishes.
— Hey, I'll take care of this. You go get some rest," he said, while his sister watched him from the doorframe.
— Okay, little brother, I'm counting on you," she said as she patted him on the head.
William laughed softly, as he washed the dishes, his mind still working, thinking about how to balance his responsibilities with the desire to regain some of what he had lost.
The night wore on, and as the apartment fell silent, William wondered how different his life would have been if he hadn't had to make that decision. But he also knew he would do it again, without hesitation. His sister would always come first.