Samantha
The first thing Samantha became aware of was sunlight.
It stretched across the bedroom ceiling in pale golden bands, warming the room enough that she didn't immediately pull the blankets tighter around herself. For several seconds she remained perfectly still, caught in that strange place between sleeping and waking where reality hadn't fully settled in yet. Then awareness slowly returned. The unfamiliar bedroom. The apartment above Davidson Cycle Works. The sound of motorcycles occasionally passing on the highway outside. And, unfortunately, the conversation she'd had with Bjorn the night before.
Her eyes immediately squeezed shut.
"Oh, no."
The words came out as a groan muffled by her pillow.
Rolling onto her side, Samantha buried her face beneath the blanket and briefly c
