window of the worn Ford, the unfamiliar streets of Qu

eighborhood?" she asked,

he road. "The apartment is a rent

ower Manhattan. A long line of couples snaked out

of the car and walked a short dist

back. "Let's go. There's a

rked door where a city employee was waiting for them. The employ

she whispered, her su

hly, not meeting her eye. "I mentioned we were in a hurry, and h

boss who could explain

mbled as she signed her name, Kristy Hill. Soon,

no family, no friends. A clerk in a small, plai

r as husband and wife, they both said, "I

the City of New York, I now pr

that, it

he thought he was going to kiss her on the lips. Instead, he pressed

blush spread across her face, and

low and slightly rough in her ear. He pull

te. Staring at the official seal, Kristy felt a profo

duced two copies of a neatly pri

read through it quickly. The terms were clear, fair, and

he signed his copy.

itchen table. "This is yours. The frid

atch. "I have to

n he wa

, the keys feeling heavy in her palm. It was small, impersonal, but it

and the tears she had refused to shed for three years began to fall. She cried for he

her hand, she stood up. The grief was still there, heavy a