The late winter snow was falling so hard it looked like the sky was trying to bury the world. It was the kind of cold that felt like it was jealous of the spring that was supposed to be coming.
By the time Christina started closing the heavy shutters of the bar, the busy city had gone silent. The roads, which are usually packed with cars, were empty. A few abandoned vehicles sat shivering on the sidewalk like frozen animals.
Christina stretched her back, her joints popping. She wondered if the buses were still running. If not, she would have to sleep in the small back room behind the changing area.
That room had been Elara's idea. She always said that staff shouldn't struggle to get home in a storm; they should stay and rest comfortably. Christina never knew if that was Elara being a kind boss or a bossy one who wanted everyone available at all times.
