#huntem

      everyone’s always complaining about the air in new york,  that it’s weighed down or something,  but mary jane always liked it.  something in the heaviness that you can shrug off,  that you can ignore and let pass through you like it’s nothing  ( it’s all a big party,  anyway,  so what are you worried about? ).   ‘course it could all come down to secondhand smoke;  but even the stench of tobacco’s grown on her.  it’s all cherries and marlboros,  babe!  that’s why there’s such a lightness in her gait whenever she’s out and about in the city,  a rhythm to her step as she traverses such sacred concrete,  one that strides and leaves the muck behind,  but is cautious not to leave a friend.

                    “     UH     ...     GOOD EVENING ,     MA’AM     ...     ”           her arrival was unexpected ,     so you must forgive him if his tone was not particularly friendly .     he just finished closing up the office for the night ,     after all .     but he still attempts a smile ,     continuing to speak to fill the silence that hangs between them .     “     antman security solutions .     i didn’t miss an appointment ,     did i ?     ”

         this   is   how   it   feels   to   be   a   stranger   to   one’s   own   world :   first   just   the   little   things   seem   off.   newspapers ,   brands.   it   eventually   expands ,   too ;   like   how   helena’s   eyes   don’t   seem   to   be   quite   the   same   shade   of   blue ,   not   what   she   remembers.   the   crosses   are   something   else ,   too.   anyway ,   not   that   it   matters   that   much   now.   preoccupied   with   a   bag   of   dry   cat   food   &   floating   across   her   meager   brooklyn   apartment ,   she’s   slow   to   peel   the   thing   open   (   careful   not   to   repeat   what   happened   last   time ,   pretty   sure   there’s   still   pellets   stuck   behind   her   fridge   . . .   and   under   it   ) .