liminal space

[selenaxaronda]

ice cream on hot days is a must, loves the smell of fresh rain, always carries a notebook for random thoughts, secretly hums while cleaning, prefers books over e-readers, coffee over tea but loves both, always adds extra seasoning to food, scared of heights but loves tall buildings, collects seashells on every beach trip, always wears mismatched socks, can never remember movie quotes, doodles on the edges of important notes, falls asleep listening to podcasts, loves thunderstorms but hates getting wet, always keeps fresh flowers in the house, writes letters but never sends them, eats dessert first at restaurants, prefers sunrise to sunset, has a soft spot for stray animals, owns way too many throw blankets.

to be cont'd.

[selenaxaronda]

closed starter: @samuelfalk location: maple grove

Selena heard her own voice before she fully registered the decision to speak, the word leaving her mouth as she stepped closer. The moment stretched in a way she recognized, not heavy, just present. She was aware of the quiet shift inside her, the way recognition had arrived without urgency or fear.

She noted the steadiness in herself, how little she wanted from the moment beyond acknowledging it. Saying hello felt less like reopening anything and more like marking a point in time she had already moved past. She stayed because she was no longer rushing, not because she expected the moment to offer her something new.

“Hey...didn't expect to run into you here," she said and offered a soft, not-so-confident smile. " I almost walked back out, but that felt worse than saying hello.”

[isabcllamcndoza]

Isabella nodded in response and continued smoking, not expecting the other woman to stick around if she didn’t want to. Given that she was already in front of the parlour, they were encouraged to be more welcoming to potential clients to bring in business. She did her quota of the day and thought that was that. It wasn’t until she continued speaking that Isa began to listen attentively and smiled as she could see her being a potential client. “Exactly.” she replied as she agreed with her statement. “Never a rush or at least for me and here too…However, I’ve heard of other artists that were complete nightmares and do rush for the sake of getting their cut. My advice? Make sure your tattoo artist listens to you and that it’s a collaborative effort on both ends.” 

When she exhaled a puff of smoke, she proceeded to tap away the excess ashes and met the other’s gaze as she sardonically chuckled, “I’m that obvious, huh? Yeah, it does, but I’m restless and I’d rather be that outside than in.” Now it’s not everyday that she gets hit with such profound questions, such as what the other had mentioned and so Isabella stood there for a moment as she tried to formulate a well thought out response. “I can’t give you a definite answer, especially when everyone’s reasoning for getting a tattoo varies. However, I can speak from my experience and say, I got my first one when I wanted to honour someone close to me. You just know, it’s like a gut feeling and both a want and a need. Does that make sense?” 

[selenaxaronda]

Selena stayed where she was, as she slowly nodded, just listening. Her hands were still tucked into her coat pockets, and her finger fumbled around with her key ring. She in no way rushed the woman to fill the quiet. She licked her lips as the smoke curled between them and drifted off. It took everything inside her to not ask for a drag. Or two.

“That makes sense,” she said. “The collaboration part especially. I’d rather walk away with nothing than rush something I’m going to live with.”

She shifted her weight, considering Isa’s words about knowing. About the gut feeling. “I think that’s what’s been stopping me. I keep waiting for it to feel necessary, not just interesting.”

Her gaze dropped for a second, then came back up. “Honoring someone feels different. That’s not decoration. That’s memory.”

A small pause. “Restless outside beats restless inside,” she added. “At least out here you get air.”

She tilted her head slightly. “Do you mind if I 'm a little nosey and ask what ink you're wearing?”

[ariaxpark]

Aria normally didn't take Ubers, she had her own car but it was in the shop and that left her feeling rather stranded. She'd been on the way home from the newspaper office and the only option to get her to her parent's place at a reasonable time was the sharing option. With a groan, that was the one she'd picked and so she'd gotten into the car, hoping that it would be empty but lo and behold another woman was already seated and was on the phone.

It had Aria greeting the driver in a polite tone before relaxing in her seat on her way. When the other spoke up in her direction she managed a small smile. "Oh you're fine, I promise I wasn't eavesdropping," she showed the other her AirPod before taking it out. "But the concept of rideshares...it's so weird sometimes, almost like forcing her to socialize right?" That was Aria, always trying to make the normally uncomfortable moments easy again.

[selenaxaronda]

Selena couldn't help by grin as she glanced over and caught the AirPod gesture.

“"Agree, it's beyond weird… "

Her gaze followed the street lights as she leaned back against the head rest. “I don’t mind the quiet actually… Feels less awkward when nobody’s pretending too hard.”

She gazed thoughtfully at the stranger. “But forced socializing could be worse. At least this comes with an exit and a destination.”

She shifted her phone into her bag. “Car in the shop?”

[charlenequinn]

with her honda in the shop and too proud, or maybe it was stubborn, to get a ride from anyone else like her family or a co-worker, charli downloaded the uber app and did her best to figure out a ride. when the vehicle arrived and she'd confirmed with the driver their identity she climbed into the back and was as equally surprised as the other woman to find someone else there. "i guess i didn't either," the blonde breathed a soft, quiet, perhaps even a bit shy laugh and tucked some strands behind her ear, "but i'm new at this."

despite the feeling that she should probably jump out and say that she'll just order a new ride, there was comfort in the fact that she wouldn't be taking this ride alone. even if it was just another stranger in the mix. that's what kept her rooted. "that's ok and if you need to make more calls... just pretend i'm not here," she offered, a smile and glance the other's way. not only was it her personality, the quiet type, charli was also well practiced in it. "long day already? are you off to something relaxing?"

[selenaxaronda]

"I actually think I'm done talking for the night…as far as work goes anyway."

Tired eyes fluttered as she gazed past the other woman and looked out the window. “Yeah. Long day. One of those where you spend hours convincing other people not to panic and forget to check in with yourself.”

Her gaze moved back to Charli, brief but open. “Nothing relaxing planned, unfortunately. Just heading home and hoping the quiet does some of the work for me.”

A pause, then, softer, “First time using Uber’s not the worst way to end a day. At least you didn’t have to figure it out alone.”

[isabcllamcndoza]

❛ ☾ ◟━ LOCATION: outside ink city

❛ ☾ ◟━ TIME: afternoon

❛ ☾ ◟━ STATUS: OPEN to EVERYONE // @windsorbaystarters

Isa could kill for a joint right now, but she was on the clock at Ink City, counting down the last hour she had left of her shift. While she didn't have any clients booked, she still had an obligation to stick around just in case she's needed for any flash tattoos or potential consultations. Currently on her fifth? Or was it sixth?—Smoke break of the day, she leaned against the store window and scrolling on her phone while exhaling a cloud of smoke in the process. Noticing someone nearby, she glanced up and asked, "Hey, are you here for a tattoo or...Got a question?"

[selenaxaronda]

Selena slowed to a stop a few feet away. She was careful not to crowd her. She glanced at the shop window and noted the hum of fluorescent lights.

“Neither, really,” she said. “Not today, anyway.”

She’d been walking longer than she meant to, killing time, just letting her head quiet down after a long day. The shop caught her eye the way places like this always did.

“I’ve thought about getting one,” she went on. “Just never when I’m actually ready to sit in the chair. Feels like something you don’t rush.”

Her gaze flicked to the cigarette before reaching the gaze of the woman. “You look like you’re on hour seven of pretending you’re not watching the clock.”

A pause. Then, softer, “I used to do that. The whole waiting-for-the-shift-to-end thing. It messes with your patience.”

She nodded once toward the door. “I guess I do have a question. Not about flash or pricing. Just… how you know when something’s worth carrying around forever.”

[leylademirci]

Leyla hummed, a small sound like she got it, not really saying yes, but more like she understood. She watched the chef a bit longer than needed, those knives zipping around like exclamation points in the air. Then, her eyes found Selena again. "Yep, those slow pileups are the absolute worst," she said. "You don't even realize you're buried until you're gasping for air."

She leaned her forearms on the table, looking relaxed and open. "I totally get not forgetting things," she went on. "For me, it's more about putting stuff in different boxes. Like, a noisy room, a hot grill, anything that really makes you focus. It doesn't make stuff go away, but it gives your head a rest." She cracked a small smile. "And hey, if a shrimp smacks you in the middle of thinking, it really snaps you back to reality."

When Selena asked if she was trying to escape, she paused. She decided to be honest. "A little bit of both," she confessed. "Some nights, you're trying to get away from something. Other nights, you're just hungry and don't want to cook." Her eyes got a bit softer. "Tonight just felt like a good reason to sit still and let someone else deal with the sharp stuff." She picked up her chopsticks again, tapping them together gently. "So, we dodge the flying shrimp, critique the knife work, and pretend this is exactly where we planned to be."

[selenaxaronda]

Selena watched the chef again. The knives flashing and spinning were amusing if it she had seen the same schtick a thousand times.It was hard not to focus on all the noise and heat.

“I don’t box things very well,” she admitted. “I tend to stack them. Next thing you know I'm standing there with the weight of the world on my shoulders wondering how everything got so heavy .”

“This, ” she added, gesturing vaguely at the grill, the chef, the controlled chaos of it all, “this is loud enough to drown things out without being overwhelming. It’s… contained. I like that.”

She took a sip of her drink.“I spend a lot of time being the one who handles the sharp stuff. Fixes it. Manages it. Keeps it from cutting anyone else. So sitting still while someone else takes responsibility feels almost indulgent. ”

Her mouth curved into a small smile when Leyla mentioned pretending.“I’m very good at pretending things are exactly where I meant for them to be. Sometimes I even convince myself.”

She glanced back at Leyla, eyes steady. She lifted her glass again, softer this time. “Hey, if I get smacked by a shrimp in the middle of all that, I’ll consider it a bonus,"she joked. Tilting her head toward Leyla, "Just ignore all the extra yapping. In case you couldn't tell, I'm on one today…how bout you? What's the thing you've been stacking in those boxes lately?"

[starlightnoir]

     "well,  dylan  is  with  his  father,  so..."  the  half  rolled  eyed  expression  she  tossed  selena  should've  said  it  all.  thankfully  work  and  chores  around  the  house  kept  her  busy  enough  that  she  didn't  dwell  too  much.  after  she'd  twisted  the  cork  screw  into  the  bottle  kenna  was  working  the  cork  out.  "i'm  just  trying  not  to  think  about  the  fact  that  he's  probably  being  fed  bullshit  and  the  mistress  is  likely  around  as  well."

a  popping  sound  indicated  the  wine  was  able  to  breathe  and  the  brunette  pushed  it  aside  for  a  few  minutes  to  do  so.  in  it's  place  she'd  moved  the  ingredients  for  cookies  closer.  "i  think  i  have  reese's  pieces  if  we  wanna  add  'em  to  the  chocolate  chips."  to  her  friend  she  glanced  and  then  clocked  the  mixed  tucked  into  a  corner  of  the  kitchen  counter  space.

"so,  spill  it  girl,  what's  the  stuff  you're  supposedly  fine  about  but  clearly  aren't?"  it'd  been  a  few  minutes  so  she  reached  for  the  bottle  and  poured  some  wine  in  both  glasses.  "looks  like  you  survived  the  holidays  alright.  we  all  gathered  at  my  brother's  this  year  and  i'm  grateful  that  for  once  i  wasn't  stuck  with  all  the  cooking."

catching  up  with  the  likes  of  selena  meant  that  she  didn't  have  to  put  on  a  level  of  bullshit,  she  could  be  real  with  her  and  that  meant  she  was  pretty  much  the  most  valued  friend.  "did  you  ring  in  the  new  year  locked  away  with  that  hot  guy  you've  been  telling  me  about?"  small  town  —  she'd  both  seen  and  heard  of  him  and  could  confirm  that  descriptions  hadn't  done  him  justice.

[selenaxaronda]

Selena accepted the glass with a smile. Listening to Kenna, she rolled the stem between her fingertips. She didn’t rush to fill the space as Kenna’s tone said enough.

“I'm sorry, babe..I'm sure that whole situation with his dad is exhausting,” she said. “For both you and for Dylan. Kids pick up on more than people like to admit, even when everyone’s pretending things are normal.”

A sympathetic gaze fell on Kenna. “All you can do is be the steady place he comes back to. The rest isn’t yours to control, no matter how much you want to rip it out at the root," then after a beat, she added, "but I'm totally down if you want to summon the Etsy Witches to fuck up the girlfriend. I'm not joking by the way."

Selena reached for her wine and took a longer sip this time. “Also, Reese’s Pieces absolutely belong in cookies. That’s just science.”

"Oh man, that's great, Kenna. Sounds like you had an amazing time. I'm still looking forward to us getting together for a home-cooked meal though so you're not off the hook yet in terms of cooking," she teased. Then, softer, more honest, “I keep telling myself I’m fine with the distance. From my family. From all of it. Most days, I am.”

She rolled the stem of the glass between her fingers again, yearnig for something a bit harder. “But the holidays make the quiet louder. Everyone else has somewhere to go, someone to sit across from. I just… don’t, most days. Anyway, the latest is that my sperm donor is up for parole, and my mom is pressuring me to speak in front of his parole board. Ya know, like I'm supposed to lend support to the creep who stole money from all those innocent people... and god knows what else..."

A faint smile surfaced when Kenna mentioned the guy she'd been seeing off and on. “And no, I didn’t ring in the new year locked away with Fine Shyt," she said, unsure of how else to describe him in that moment. No titles, no pressures… just fun times and phenomenal sex. "That's actually kind of a gray area," she admitted, "I'm convinced as long as I stay in that space, the less likely I am to fuck up a good thing." She met Kenna’s gaze again. “Loud and messy actually sounds kind of perfect right now," she said, then added, "Now what have you been up to these days...seeing anyone special?"

[sudaul]

[starlightnoir]

      it  wasn't  the  unexpected  guest  at  her  front  door,  she  always  welcomed  her  friends  to  drop  by,  it  was  the  way  the  brunette  seemed  riddled  with  anxiety  that  had  kenna  practically  staring.  finally  she  blinked  and  went  into  action.  "you  better  not  take  those  wine  bottles  back  home."  a  smirk  lodged  in  place  and  she  opened  the  door  wider  for  selena.  "come  on  in.  make  yourself  at  home."  the  woman  knew  where  everything  was.  "i  just  need  to  throw  what's  in  the  washer  into  the  dryer  and  i'll  join  you  in  the  kitchen."

after  leaving  selena  to  enter  and  close  up  behind  herself,  she  headed  to  the  laundry  room  to  take  care  of  business.  chores  always  seemed  never  ending.  a  couple  of  minutes  later  kenna  made  her  way  into  the  kitchen.  "perfect  timing.  i've  been  battling  my  own  intrusive  thoughts."  it  always  happened  when  dylan  went  to  spend  time  with  his  shithole  father.  "so  lets  bake  and  get  sloshed.  i  never  understood  anyone  that  said  cookies  and  wine  don't  go  together."  the  musing  came  with  another  smirk.

while  she  was  aiding  in  unloading  the  bag  of  goods,  the  veterinarian  glanced  at  the  laptop  that  selena  had  also  brought.  curiosity  piqued  a  bit.  "so  what's  up,  babe?  what's  bothering  my  beautiful  girl?"

[selenaxaronda]

Sabrina leaned her hip against the counter. She smiled, thinking that Kenna always clocked her mood before Sabrina had a chance to smooth it over. She definitely loved that about her friend. At the same time Selena wished that she could coin the market on being more discreet about inward struggles.

“God, don’t threaten me with a good time,” she said lightly, nudging one of the wine bottles toward the counter like proof she planned to stay. “Cookies and wine absolutely go together. Anyone who says otherwise can fight me…"

She glanced at the laptop, then away again. The familiar and unwelcome truth sat heavy on her chest. She had spent the drive over rehearsing half a dozen ways to explain herself and abandoned all of them.

“I just needed to not be alone tonight,” she admitted, quieter now. “My head’s been loud all day. Work, family, the stuff I keep telling myself I’m fine about.”

She sighed as her curved into a tired smile. "I'll tell you all about it later…" Meeting Kenna's gaze, she added,“Tell me you’re actually okay, too. Or at least pretending convincingly.”

[leylademirci]

Leyla's smile grew as Selena got comfortable, her shoulders relaxing like a weight had been lifted. "Irresponsible is the right word," she said. "This is a risky game. You sit down, you're in." She looked at the knives again, then at Selena, noticing the bit of sadness behind the humor without saying anything. There it was, that quiet baggage people carry when they don't want to talk. She got it. "Good," Leyla said casually. "Because if no one's paying attention, things get messy. And messy means losing an eyebrow." After a pause, she added, softer, "Or ending up with lame fried rice." She put her chopsticks down and leaned a little closer to Selena. "Rough week?" Not pushing, just opening the door. "Hibachi's a pretty good spot to just forget about it."

[selenaxaronda]

Selena watched the chef adjust his grip, the knives flashing under the lights, and let the moment stretch before answering. The table was loud enough that silence did not feel like pressure, which she appreciated. “Yeah,” she said finally. “The kind that sneaks up on you. Nothing dramatic, just a slow pileup.”

She rested her hands around her glass, giving it some more thought. Being here actually meant she didn't have to explain why she was tired or why the holidays made everything feel sharper around the edges. She could just exist in the noise and the anticipation.

“Hmmm... I don’t really forget,” she added, a little more honest than she intended. “But I like places where the world is busy enough to drown things out for a while.”

Her gaze shifted back to her accidental dinner companion. “And you’re right. If I’m going to carry my baggage with me, it might as well be paired with good food… and the very real threat of flying shrimp.” After a beat of a pause, she glanced back at the brunette. “What about you, though. Are you here to escape something, or is this just a good night out?”

[amaraxhawthcrne]

A small smile appeared on Amara's lips, watching as the woman took her advice. It was almost like watching one of her girls finally making all the correct steps — whether a child or an adult, that look of accomplishment lightening up their face was just the same. Making small steps, Amara guided the woman into a small circle around the rink, feeling the need to keep moving in order to chase the cold away. "I used to, yeah. I used to train as a teen. Five times a week. And using up any opportunity during the winter to practice outside. But stopped in my early 20s." Sometimes she wondered what life would look like if she hadn't. "What about you? You seem to have good balance. Have you done it before?"

[selenaxaronda]

Selena nodded as she followed the curve, letting the rhythm settle into her legs. The ice hummed beneath her blades, familiar enough to feel steady without demanding attention. She kept her movements simple, trusting the momentum, the way she had suggested.

Selena paused, giving her a thoughtful smile. “Not like that, though. Lessons when I was younger. Nothing competitive. It was one of those things my parents thought would teach discipline.”

She let out a quiet breath, eyes tracking the edge of the rink as they passed. “I didn’t stick with it long enough for it to become a whole identity, but some of it stays in your body. Balance, mostly. Muscle memory doesn’t really forget.”

Her gaze flicked back to her. “Five times a week is serious. That kind of schedule doesn’t just disappear.”

[leylademirci]

@windsorbaystarters where: yum yum sushi

Leyla took her seat at the hibachi table, shrugging off her jacket and rolling up her sleeves like she was settling in for some time. The chef hadn't started cooking, but the grill was getting hot, and the air was already smelling wonderful with soy and garlic, making everyone excited. She looked at the empty seat next to her, then around the table, a calm, watchful, and slightly entertained look on her face, waiting for the fun to begin.

"Just so you know," she said, not really talking to anyone specific, tapping her chopsticks gently on her plate. "I'm here for both the entertainment and the food, and I will be judging the knife tricks. Not in a mean way, though. Just… critically." She paused, then gave a small smile. "Are you going to sit down, or are you just going to stand there acting like you don't want the best view of shrimp flying through the air?"

[selenaxaronda]

Selena let out a quiet laugh. As she set her bag down at her feet she rolled her shoulders back. The warmth from the grill sank in. She thought it felt good to arrive somewhere and not have to feel like she was late to an argument or worse, missing a call she was supposed to return.

"Oh, please," she said as she settled in. She glanced at the chef's knives with mild respect. "I would never turn down front row seating for flying shrimp. That would be flat out irresponsible."

As she reached for her own chopsticks, she sighed. Part of her still carried the ugly residue of a tough week… unanswered texts, unresolved shit with people she happened to share DNA with, but not much else these days. It felt good to burrow into someone else's normal for a change.

"I definitely support critical judging," she added. Her eyes flicked toward the stranger. "After all, someone has to hold them accountable…."

[amaraxhawthcrne]

"Yeah, yeah, I'm good." Amara shook head, making small steps on the ice to regain her balance. "I used to be a lot better at landings." A small laugh escaped her lips. "But I guess it all takes practice." She hadn't tried a jump in years, didn't even visit the rink regularly these days, unlike the countless hours spent in the cold as a teen. "Are you at least enjoying yourself?" Her first steps on the ice weren't much different, Amara remembered, though she always had the attitude to walk straight into a challenge with confidence and zero fear, finding joy in situations. "By the way, the thing is to not overthink it and just allow your body to naturally glide over the surface. The more you overthink it, the higher the chance of losing balance and falling over is."

[selenaxaronda]

"Thanks, and I am more than I expected," Selena nodded.

Shifting her weight, she tested the ice beneath her with the blade. She pushed off again in a small arc. The move felt simple enough that her body remembered not to fight it. "That kind of tracks," she added with a soft smile. "Overthinking is kind of my thing. I forget that momentum does half the work for you."

She took in a breath, and the cold stung her lungs in a way that felt clean. Being at the event alone felt safer than sitting through another holiday call that would end in awkward silences. It was funny how estrangement had a way of sneaking up on you, becoming its own sort of tradition.

She glanced at her again. "Sounds like you have lots of experience. Did you skate a lot growing up?"

[amaraxhawthcrne]

open starter for @windsorbaystarters (0/5) location: belmont park (the holiday extravaganza)

As much as she wished to come in the evening when the christmas tree was all lit up and lights reflected over the smooth surface, it was way less crowded during the daylight. The cold slipped through the seams of her coat and settled against her skin, her cheeks flushed. Amara moved gracefully across the center of the ice rink. Exhaling, pale cloud left her mought and vanished almost as soon as she noticed it. Despite the music, all she could hear were the thin scrapes. She made another small circle before growing enough confidence to try out a jump. A small one but enough to draw the attention of others, landing less gracefully than she wished. "Sorry." She yelled, escaping the almost inevitable bump into another person by quickly taking a turn, costing her another momentary loss of balance.

[selenaxaronda]

The sudden jolt startled Selena. She took a deep breath and paused a moment to register what was happening. "No no…you are good,"she said with a smile. "I'm pretty certain I'm equally to blame for not paying attention to where I was going", she admitted."No harm done. "

Once she caught her balance Selena glided into a loop around the woman. She was simultaneously careful to keep her distance while still in her thoughts.

The holidays had a way of amplifying her self imposed absence even though she had grown used to navigating them on her own for the most part.

"That jump was something else…super bold of you. I can barely get around without holding on to the rails" she admitted. Bringing her brows together, she added “Are you okay?”

[selenaxaronda]

closed starter l @kennamorrissey

Selena simultaneously swallowed a gulp and shifted her small frame around as she balanced the bag of groceries at her side with her laptop. "I'm sorry I popped up here like some stalker. Are you pissed I didn't text or call first?" She asked automatically when Kenna appeared in the frame of her doorway. "You know me…I hesitated and all for a split second, but then my intrusive thoughts won out, and here we are," she said with an unabashed grin. She shifted again, the loud clinking of bottles partly exposing her plan. "I brought stuff to make chocolate chip cookies and the cheapest wine I could find without a screw top. Wanna bake and get a little blitzed?"

Her shoulders dropped, and Kenna could likely see the release of tension she had been carrying all day. "Tell me if it's not a good time, and I'll just…carry my lame ass and my baking ambitions back home."

[cricketyeong]

Diana glanced at the space directly across from her in the booth, her eyes sweeping nervously across the full diner. She instantly realized her mistake; taking up a valuable booth seat for her break was selfish and unprofessional, especially during the rush. After a brief internal panic, she gave a short, affirmative nod. "Right," she said, offering a small, quick smile that felt stiff on her face. "Yeah, go ahead." She gestured toward the empty seat opposite her.

Trying to swiftly pivot away from the awkwardness of taking up the seat and the intensity of her earlier paranoia, she forced a casual question. "Have you been holiday shopping?" she asked, genuinely curious about what was driving the chaos outside.

Her fingers continued to rub gently against each other under the table—a constant, subtle nervous tick. Her eyes drifted back toward the storefront window, watching the hurried foot traffic of shoppers and commuters. "I think it's only going to get worse," she said after a brief, tense silence, elaborating softly, "The people rushing around. The closer it gets to Christmas the more people are going to congest this area."

[selenaxaronda]

Selena looked around at the crowd. Most of the tables looked crammed with two or more folks, no one seemingly knowing the person next to them. The woman's energy felt nervous and was hard to miss. She let the thought linger as she gazed across the table as she slid into the booth.

"Not really…" "I mean, there are a couple of people I shop for. I hate the last minute thing. Yet here we are…" She let her gaze follow the other woman's gaze to the window. The blur of coats and shopping bags moved past like a current, she noted. Just then, her mother's voice crept back inside her head…the call from earlier replaying in small fragments. Mainly, questions about when she would slow down long enough to respond to the plethora of attempted phone calls and letters from her father. Selena pushed the dizzying thoughts to the side for the time being.

Selena slowly tapped the tabletop and gave the woman a thoughtful glance as she spoke. "It definitely feels like everyone is trying to outrun the calendar," she agreed. "So do you actually work here or just stopping by?"