On a San Jose side street a parking garage's blue awning jutted over the sidewalk. On the awning was the international symbol for parking, a white "P" in a blue rectangle. The awning said, "Pedestrian Access to Grace."
Alea passed and put her bag on the sidewalk. She opened the door beneath the awning; a set of concrete steps stretched upwards into darkness. On second thought she retrieved her handbag, then let the door close behind her and began climbing the stairs. Ten degrees cooler inside, mechanical-smelling air, receding waves of darkness. And then...
