Thosewhocouldaffordabetterlifehadlongsincemovedawaywiththeirfamilies.Mostunitsinthisbuildingwerehollowshellsnow,inhabitedonlybystraycats,dogs,ortheoccasionalchildbraveenoughtosneakin.Homelessdrifterssometimessquattedfhtortwo,buthemstayed.

TheapartmentitselfwaslikearottingbamboosliptossedamongapileofDVDs.Outofpce,fragile,quietlywhisperingitsownhistory.

Stretgherarmsbehindher,shetiltedherfacetothesky,eyesclosed,surrenderingtothegentlekissofsunlightandmbreeze.

Andreally,whocaredabouthistoryanymore?

Thatwastheonlyexpnation.

Shemustbealittlemonster.

OnlyLu,thehomicidecaptain,remained.

Itwasn''''''''tthatLuhadhoughtaboutsettlingdown.Itwasthatnowomaninherrightmindwouldwanthim.

dpickedupfrombooksandmovies.

Shedriedherhair,slippedintoarobe,andsteppedontothebalytogreettherisingsun.Aftersuexhaustingnight,shecravedthewarmth,odrinkineverydropofwarmthshecould.

Moxioftenteasedhim:"Ifyou''''''''dbeensmart,youshou

Sof.

Theoldapartmentstoodonastreethecityter,hemmedinbyotherbuildingsjustaswearyandwaitingfordemolition.Theirjagged,soot-stainedrooftopsofthesecrumblingstructureshuogetherinthecrampedskyline,dwarfedbythesapphire-blueskyscrapersglitteringiaheirgssmonolithsglitteringlikegemstones.

Hehadnomoney,nofamily.Sowhatdiditmatterwherehelived?Thisoldapartmeohimbyhisparents,wasstillstanding.Aslongasthepowerstayedon,theroofdidn''''''''tleak,andnoonecametoevicthim,hewouldstayhere.Maybeuntilthedayhedied.

Sheknewshewasn''''''''tlikeirls.