“On Monday, she got the call that they were being shut down.” He says, sighing and looking past my head. I can feel the heat from his line of sight singeing my hair, filling my nose and lungs with that noxious smell, choking me… And then he tries to catch my attention by looking me in the eyes, and it feels even worse. I try to glance at the floor, but he says my name and forces my hand. I look up at him, but I don’t see him. I haven’t since I was eight. Not that I knew him then, either, but at the very least I could see the man. The glare from the cold lights above bounce off his glasses, obscuring my uncle’s eyes.

I hate this man. As much as I can, I hate this man. I would say it has poisoned my very soul if he hadn’t gotten there already.

“I know. Kiki told me already.” It was strange, seeing her crying this morning. Strange being the one to comfort her.

“Ah.”

“…Yeah.” I can’t even think of the right insult to hurl. Although… I probably wouldn’t even be able to muster the energy to shout and scream at him even if I did find the words.

“So, uh, I’m gonna be spending more time there before they shutter up. A-after school, I mean. Maybe an hour or two.”

“Will you have enough time for your homework? For work on-”

“Stop. Stop talking. Just… Yes, it’ll be fine, Ben.” I drop my hand after shushing him. I’m starting to hate my job. Starting to associate it with my uncle more than my father. It’s not a fair thing to do, seeing as my work is really the result of all the labors of my parents, their son before I ever came to be their daughter, but it’s been six years since my father died. Fourteen since my mother passed. I know my uncle more than I ever knew either of them. Hate him more than I loved them. I shake my head, trying to clear it. “I’m gonna go. Wanna talk with Kiki. Maybe pick up a book.”

“Alright. Be back by eight.”

“Sure.” I retreat, grabbing my coat before closing the door a bit stronger than I intended. I flinch away after it shuts, loosely throwing on my coat and digging through the pockets. Subway card, subway card, subway card… Ah. There it is.

The train is, somehow, nearly totally empty. There’s an old woman giving me a dirty eye, and a couple far too wrapped up in each other, but that’s it. I wonder why she’s staring at me and not the lovebirds. Whatever. My stop is coming up.

The doors are louder than the wheels screeching on the rails. I slip out when they’re about half-open, making my way out of the station. It’s packed, and I can’t help but selfishly wonder how many people here I’ll save one day. I don’t think I really care about the number, though. I certainly don’t want them to know it was me.

Finally, I breach onto the street, breathing in the fresh cigarette-smoke air. Lovely. It’s only about 6, but it could very well be midnight. Not that the streets of the city are quiet or anything, no. Never. I don’t quite push past the people on the street, but I do bump into a few. I apologize loud enough for them to hear but apparently not loud enough to garner a response.

Maybe I’m thinking too hard. They’re probably busy too, it’s not rude of them to forget a common courtesy. Honestly, it’s a bit self-centered of me to expect or even want them to respond. Do I deserve that response? The “Oh, no, you’re fine!”? I need to stop thinking so hard. Bury my face in a book. Good thing, too…

I open the door to The Midday Kitten, cat-collar bell ringing to announce my arrival. Kiki waves at me from behind her bar, and I wave back. I’m not sure whether I want to grab a book or my usual drink first, but I settle on my drink. I wanna talk with Kiki. The shop’s closing, after all. Plus, she’s real hard to talk to during school. Taking my seat at my favorite stool, I open my mouth to order my usual.