We exited the bathroom. The slumped clerk didn’t see us leave, too busy tapping at a game on his phone. We headed back to her car, treading across the parking lot in large bounds, more leaps than steps—we were buoyant from the negative result and the gorgeous sunset, the sky unveiling its long strands of pink and purple. I breathed in. I breathed out. The cold winter air puffed out, visible. I whooped with glee and turned to Cathy, who was grinning, her face lit up by the parking lot lights, beautiful under such glorious evening skies.
