Chapter Nine
I meet Steven in a small city garden where I often go to think. It’s secluded on four sides by brick walls, which are covered with thick vines. I come here believing that it is my private refuge, that no one else knows of its existence tucked in the heart of the city, unseen. It is one place where I’m able to think clearly, even with the sounds of traffic in the distance and the harsh smells of city life that permeate the jungle of vines. I hope Steven and I will find as much clarity here together as I find for myself. Because I figure he’ll have some difficulty finding the garden, I wait outside on a small concrete bench.
Some minutes later, he approaches from the solitary path leading to the garden. My heart skips a beat in fear, while at the same time, I feel the same fl
