sukiesathunchedoverherdesk，hereyesstraedfrostargattheputersforhourheofficewasdilylit，withonlytheflickergforestlightsaboveaglowofputeronitorsprovidgilationiaswellpastofficehours，andostofherlleagueshadalreadygonehothecityoutsidewasalivewiththehuoftraffidthedistantundfnightlife，butsukiewastrappedtheonotonogrdofherjob

    shesigheddeeply，rubbieplesaoalleviatethethrobbgheadachethathadbeenbuildgalldayherphonebuzzedonthedesk，ahestoseeassafroherbestfriend，jack

    ＊jack＊:＂stilttheoffieedadrk?＂

    sukieuldn，thelpbutsilejackalwaysknewwhensheneededabreaksheicklytypedbackaresponse

    ＊sukie＊:＂youkoowelletyouatourualspot30?＂

    ＊jack＊:＂seeyouthere＂

    sukiepowereddowerandgatheredherthgsasshesteppedoutoftheofficebuildg，shewasgreetedbytheightair，aweletrasttothestuffyoffivirothestreetswerebtlgwithpeople，aylightscastawar，vitgglowonthesurroundgssheadeherwaytothebarwheresheandjackofteound

    jackwasalreadytherewhenshearrived，sittgatasalltablehebackhewavedherover，awidegronhisfacejackwasthekdoffriendwhouldalwaysakeherugh，noatterhowtoughherdayhadbeenhiseasygognatureandshariterfectfoiltoherorereservedandtrospectivepernality

    ＂hey，youadeit，＂hesaidassheslidtotheseapositehi＂roughday?＂

    ＂roughweek，＂sukierepliedwithawearysile＂butatleastit，verthanksfstgthisi＂

    jackraisedhisgssatoast＂tosurvivganotherweek＂

    ＂tosurvivg，＂sukieechoed，kghergssagasthis

    astheychattedandughed，sukiefeltthestresfthedaybegiawayjack，spresencewaslikeabaltoherfrazzledheytalkedabouteverythgandnothg，froworkdraastotheirfavoritetvshowsforafewhours，sukieuldfetaboutthepressurefherjobandjtenjoytheont

    iastebythetitheyleftthebarthestreetshadieteddown，ayseedtobesettlgtoapeacefulsberjackwalkedhertoherapartnt，ashealwaysdid，akgsureshegothosafely

    ＂thanksfortonight，jack，＂sukiesaidastheyreachedherbuildg＂ireallyhis＂

    ＂anyti，sukieyouknowi，alwayshereforyou，＂jackreplied，givgherawarhug＂trest，okay?＂

    ＂iwillgoodnight，jack＂

    ＂goodnight，sukie＂

    sukiewatchedasjackwalkedaway，feelgapangofgratitudeforhisfriendshipsheheadedsideandadehertoherapartntiasasall，odestpce，butiashersanctuaryshekickedoffhershoesandlpsedontotheuch，tootiredtoeventhkaboutgogtobed

    assheythere，stargattheceilg，herddriftedbacktotheversationshehadwithjackhehadawayofakgherseethgsdifferently，ofredihattherewasoretolifethanjorksherelvedtotakehisadvidstartakgoretiforherself

    littledidsheknow，herlifewasabouttowayssheuldneverhaveiaged

    the，sukiewokeuptotheundofherarbrgshegroanedandrolledover，retlydragggherselfoutofbedtheweekendhadarrived，butsteadoffeelgrelieved，shefeltanexplicablesenseofforebodgsheshookoffthefeelgaaboutherroute，hopgahotshowerandacupofffeewouldhelpclearherhead

    afterbreakfast，shedecidedtotakeawalktoclearherdthecitywasalreadybtlgwithactivity，butsukiefoundthefailiarstreetsahofherfootstepsasshewanderedailessly，shefoundherselfdrawntoasall，old－fashionedbookstoretuckedawayaietalley

    curio，shesteppedihesllofoldbooksartleofpasgreetedher，creatgasenseofcalshewahroughtheaisles，runngherfrsalongthespihebooksonebook，particur，caughthereyeiasana－lookgtowithaworherverandtricategoldletterg

    sukiepulledthebookfrotheshelfandope，hereyeswidengasshesawthebeautiful，hand－drawnilstrationsihebookseedtobealleofstoriesandlendsfroalong－fotteneraassheflippedthroughthepas，shefeltastranseothestories，asiftheywerecallgouttoher

    lostthebook，shedidn，tnoticethetipassguntivoicestartledher

    ＂igchoice，＂adeep，soothvoicesaidfrobehdher

    sukieturoseeatall，handanstandgthere，hisdarkeyesklgwithaentheeablydressed，andtherewasanairofysteryabouthithattriguedher

    ＂rry，ididostartleyou，＂hesaidwithachargsile＂i，hanfenglgiuldn，thelpbutnoticeyoeeiteengrossedthatbook＂

    ＂i，sukie，＂shereplied，bshgslightly＂it，safasatgbookdoyouworkhere?＂

    hanfenglgshookhishead＂no，jtafellowbookloverbuti，vereadthatonebeforeit，sfulloftrigugstoriesperhapsiuldshareofyfavoriteswithyouoverffee?＂