SOFIA


5 o'clock and a fire escape symphony
Spilling out across the road and the square.
And the sky's the same as your own, do you think of me?
Do the parks, and trees, and the leaves reach you there?

- Nerina Pallot


Faye and Spike are standing in an alley, leaning against the wall of a shoe repair shop, facing a nondescript apartment building. Spike carries a large cup of black coffee in his hands, looking about a million miles away as he stares at one of the windows above. Faye is tearing into a heavily iced pastry, looking rather put out.

"Why did you bring me here?" she asks.

He ignores the question, narrowing his eyes at the darkened window, trying to imagine her long hair, her white apron. In reality, from down here, he'd be too far away to see her blue eyes, but he thinks of them anyways. Her lips are never too far away from a smile.

"Goodbye," he says under his breath.

"What?" Faye frowns, suddenly looking worried. He leans over to kiss her just as she's licking a sticky bit of icing from the corner of her mouth. His eyes are open so he can enjoy the surprise in hers. And he does.

"Spike…?"

When she says his name, his heart hurts. It's wonderful.

Hello.