3:30 A.M.
The shriek of the phone’s alarm was enough to rattle windows. A groggy hand flopped its way from the bed, swatted at the nightstand, and eventually hit the button on the screen. Rising from her sheets, a young woman sat up in bed a few moments, in the darkness, before dragging herself out of bed and into the bathroom. And thus the routine began. A hot shower, a quick leg shave, teeth brushed, hair dried, uniform on. By the time she grabbed her phone from its charge cable, Penelope Sweet was on her way out the door. She paused at the threshold, glancing at her roommate’s bedroom. It was closed tight, though Penny could vaguely hear Vivian’s snores from within. One last body check for her phone, keys, and wallet, and out she went.
It was always risky to take public transit so ear
