From beneath the thin borrowed blanket, reading the story about a betrayed woman’s quick mental decline, she felt weighted enough not to stir when the she heard the soft click of the door. She was using her e-reader with the backlit screen, and for a moment she turned it down and pretended to be sleeping.

But, she was a stranger in this girl’s apartment, after all. At some point she would need to see her and say hello, greet her and assume the humble position of one who has accepted a huge favor. Something like looking at her shoe laces a lot and shifting weight from foot to foot. She got out of bed and turned on the light, opening the door into the little hallway.
Sara was taking off her coat and scarf, unwrapping a smile from beneath the gray woven fabric. She was beautiful in the way that she looked completely aware of herself. With cropped hair and no makeup to hide a smooth complexion, she would show up as she was to greet whatever happened, fully confident and aware. There was something of a movie star about her. She would play the love-interest who sat directly in opposition to the main character whose life was in disarray. She would come in with her neat receipt piles and stock of toilet paper – she would never be caught unprepared – and shed wisdom and guidance on the girl who just couldn’t fathom what her life meant.
She was carrying a pizza and offered her some. Though it was almost midnight her host seemed to be as alive as ever. She wondered if this was how she always was.