Out Of A Cruel Winter Into Boundless Sunshine

Summary

Working late into the night, I found myself standing at the entrance of that pitch-black alleyway yet again.

"Fred... could you come pick me up?" I asked, my voice trembling over the line. "The streetlights still aren't fixed, and I'm scared."

A rustling sound came through the speaker.

"I'm cracking crab legs for Sienna. My hands are covered in butter. I can't leave right now."

I swallowed the bitter lump in my throat and hung up the phone.

Those streetlights had been broken for thirty days. I had begged him to pick me up thirty times, and he had never shown up once.