city living

“Gertrude didn’t need to be told twice. Clutching the book to her chest as if it were the most precious thing in the world, she turned and ran out of the room, back down the alley, and into the rain-soaked streets. But now, everything looked different. The neon signs seemed to spell out messages meant only for her. The puddles on the ground reflected impossible landscapes. And in the faces of the passersby, she saw hints of magic and mystery she had never noticed before.”