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Chapter 1

The BART train screaust of wind blew across the platforh shriek and the sound of scattered dry leaves sliding down the paveether The doors hissed open and I walked inside the battered, heated car, trying to find a seat away from the door

I had a love and hate relationship with the BART Relying on the aging public transportation systeet around wasn’t exactly a pleasant experience The seat cushions were old and stained, and if you didn’t have a seat, then people with varying degrees of hygiene craainst you I sat down as if the BART seat was a pincushion and recoiled as sohed Thousands of people depended on it for transportation into the city, and it was frequently the target of delays and strikes It cost e toll and overpriced city parking was an unaffordable luxury

I was riding the BART toa damn job On Friday, I wrote to my old professor in a ht The late night Sunday response froet back tofor nine, which unfortunately was the time most people commuted to the city for work In a few stops, the BART would be jaainst each other like sardines in a can

Maybe I would walk along Embarcadero and visit Pier 39 for clah it was always packed with tourists, I always loved walking there and breathing in the clean air On a clear day like this one, the sun would light up the pier like a gem In the distance, crystal waves would crash on the rocky shores surrounding Alcatraz To Northern Californians, San Francisco was the place that promised a path to success If you lived there, you had it made in life

When I was in school, I used to dream about the day when I’d be able to afford an apartment In a city where rent cost at least three thousand a month for a studio apart expenses with several rooh it was a short BART trip away, everyone wanted to live there

The train eot off at Market or Powell, but I had to take the train all the way to the end of the line Freezing h the station to the street I clutched the resu to finish in my folder as I cliray college caain

After you get a Bachelor’s degree, you’re supposed to be qualified for a job With the econoot jobs Sorad school and retreated into the false security it provided I felt cheated somehow

A sick feeling riled ht about what I would say to Professor Lark I did well in his class and he always encouraged me to followwould co It’ll be fine

I walked across the calish department As I walked down the hallway, I saw s with students It was really strange to be back here Asking for help fro this? The sick feeling inhere anymore

I was here because I didn’t have a choice It was this or I was going to send in applications to the local Chili’s I stopped behind Professor Lark’s door,rather fast

Pull yourself together!

I heaved a great sigh and nodded to myself Then I raised my fist and knocked three sharp raps

“C’min”

Professor Lark wheeled around in his chair and smiled as I entered the door “Jessica, how are you?”