tment，ashealwaysdid，makingsureshegothomesafely.

Curious，shesteppedihesmellofoldbooksarustleofpagesgreetedher，creatingasenseofcalm.Shewahroughtheaisles，runningherfingersalongthespihebooks.Onebook，inparticur，caughthereye.Itwasana－lookingtomewithaworhercoverandintricategoldlettering.

＂Thanksfortonight，Jack，＂Sukiesaidastheyreachedherbuilding.＂Ireallyhis.＂

Littledidsheknow，herlifewasabouttogeinwaysshecouldneverhaveimagined.

＂Goodnight，Sukie.＂

Lostinthebook，shedidn，tnoticethetimepassinguntilavoicestartledher.

SukiewatchedasJackwalkedaway，feelingapangofgratitudeforhisfriendship.Sheheadedinsideandmadehertoherapartment.Itwasasmall，modestpce，butitwashersanctuary.Shekickedoffhershoesandcolpsedontothecouch，tootiredtoeventhinkaboutgoingtobed.

＂Iwill.Goodnight，Jack.＂

Them，Sukiewokeuptothesoundofherarmbring.Shegroanedandrolledover，relutlydraggingherselfoutofbed.Theweekendhadarrived，butinsteadoffeelingrelieved，shefeltaninexplicablesenseofforeboding.Sheshookoffthefeelingaabouthermroutine，hopingahotshowerandacupofcoffeewouldhelpclearherhead.

Sukiepulledthebookfromtheshelfandope，hereyeswideningasshesawthebeautiful，hand－drawnillustrationsihebookseemedtobeacolleofstoriesandlegendsfromalong－fottenera.Assheflippedthroughthepages，shefeltastrangeseothestories，asiftheywerecallingouttoher.

＂Anytime，Sukie.YouknowI，malwayshereforyou，＂Jackreplied，givingherawarmhug.＂Getsomerest，okay?＂

Assheythere，staringattheceiling，herminddriftedbacktotheversationshehadwithJack.Hehadawayofmakingherseethingsdifferently，ofremindihattherewasmoretolifethanjustwork.Sheresolvedtotakehisadvidstartmakingmoretimeforherself.

Afterbreakfast，shedecidedtotakeawalktoclearhermind.Thecitywasalreadybustlingwithactivity，butSukiefoundsothefamiliarstreetsahmofherfootsteps.Asshewanderedaimlessly，shefoundherselfdrawntoasmall，old－fashionedbookstoretuckedawayinaquietalley.