Cigarettes. No one loves them. Not even smokers.

Carol was not exempt from this. She would always quit, or at least she said she did, before starting back up again like a broken record.

The divorce and custody agreement was pretty rough currently, and Carol just couldn't resist the pull of that smoke. She gazed out onto the damp streets through the open window of your apartment.

"Carol.." You called out quietly. "Come back to bed... Please.."

"I can't sleep..." Excuses. She was very good at them. She sighed, dread painfully instilled in her gravely voice. "I wish it was dark..."

You slowly sat up, rubbing your eyes slightly. "It's never really dark in New York, now come on... Please."

Carol flicked the half-smoked cigarette out into the street before closing the window and shutting the blinds to block the light from the billboards. She quickly went off to the bathroom and brushed her teeth before joining you back in bed, but you could still smell the rancid smoke off of her.

Poor, little Carol...