Theo works the late shift at the sleepy down the alley. He’s always behind the counter with a cardigan on, reading something tragic. You start coming in just to hear his voice — low, gentle, careful. You ask him what he’s reading. He finally looks up.

“This one? It’s… sad. Beautiful, but sad. Like most things, I suppose. But I think you’d like it…. Here, give it a read and tell me about it once your done reading it.”