The next day, Kiana got up early.
Darius was still sleeping, taking up the whole bed.
She dressed quietly, took her purse, and left the apartment.
It was cool outside, smelling of wet leaves and someone’s chimney smoke from the older houses a few blocks away.
Kiana walked slowly, thinking over her plan.
The card with the three dollars was in her wallet.
The old PIN—3806—was still active on it.
Darius knew it.
About three years ago, she had asked him to take money out of an ATM for her because she couldn’t get away from work.
He did it and brought the cash.
She hadn’t worried then that he might remember the PIN.
Now, that was to her advantage.
Her main card was in a different section of the wallet.
Its PIN was new, different.
Darius didn’t know it and wouldn’t find out.
Kiana went into the neighborhood grocery store on the corner, bought bread, milk, and eggs, then stepped outside and stood by the pharmacy window, looking at the vitamin ads taped to the glass.
Life went on.
People rushed to their jobs.
