Day 12

'I've run away too,' said Fin. 'I've brought us some buns and oranges and soup, it's just in one thermos though, so we'll have to share the cup.' Selema was sitting, with the dog, on a what looked like a man's parka, old and flattened. She was in the same storefront. 'Thanks,' she said. 'I'm glad you're not like the rest of them.' She took an orange and began peeling. The dog watched. (Fin thought of Rupert, at home with his mother.) 'You can stay here tonight if you want,' she continued, pushing the dog away with her non-orangey hand.

The night was warm, and the traffic noise easy to get used to. Selema fell asleep right after she finished eating. Fin watched her and the street for a while, then slept too. He slept remarkably well until some time, some number of hours later, when he was awakened by a kick to his stomach.