 shoulders, and stepped out onto the platform.

The train soldiered on. Darius didn't move until the rest of the platform had emptied. Another gust of air carried with it a blast of dust from a construction site across the street. Darius blinked the grit out of his eyes. On the other side of the intersection, a bus screeched to a halt in front of a crowded stop.

Darius took a deep breath. "Relax, blood," he murmured under his breath. "Ain't nothing but a thing."

He checked the traffic, then cut across the intersection. The crowd around the bus stop had already vanished, and the brakes hissed as the bus prepared to leave. Darius scooted onboard just as the doors swung shut.

The driver didn't look at him when he paid the fare. Neither did anyone else as he strode down the aisle. Each face he passed was a different shade of black. Darius found an empty bench near the back, and slid in all the way to the window. Some of the tension leaked from his shoulders. He'd almost forgotten what it was like to be invisible. How nice it could be.

The bus jerked forward, and Darius relaxed a little more. The jouncing ride was pleasantly familiar. He could almost see a smaller version of himself on the opposite bench, decked out in his St. Michael's uniform, his overstuffed backpack shoved into the small space at his feet.

The bus hit a particularly deep pothole, and the memory evaporated. Darius shook himself, turned and stared out the window.

Outside, the street began to change. Interspersed between the houses and six-plexes were two- and three-story condominiums, almost painfully fresh-faced compared to their older neighbors. The bus continued a few more blocks. Gradually, the houses gave way to more condos. The gutters grew cleaner. Flowers cascaded from balcony gardens.

Soon, the original neighborhood faded away altogether. Darius fought the urge to rub his eyes. Was he still in the right place? Smooth, even sidewalks, verdant landscaping; this looked nothing like the Hunters Point he'd left behind. It was as though some intrepid urban planner had carved out a slice of suburbia and wedged it into the heart of the hood.

He wasn't sure how he felt about
shoulders, and stepped out onto the platform. 

 The train soldier on. Darius didn't be active until the rest of the platform had vacate. Another gust of atmosphere carried with it a blast of debris from a construction site across the street. Darius blinked the backbone out of his eye. On the other english of the intersection, a bus squawk to a freeze in front of a crowded stop. 

 Darius took a deep breath. " Relax, rake, " he murmured under his breath. " Ain't nothing but a thing. " 

 He check the traffic, then cut across the intersection. The crowd around the bus arrest had already vanished, and the brakes hissed as the bus prepared to entrust. Darius scooted onboard just as the doors swung shut. 

 The driver didn't look at him when he pay the fare. Neither did anyone else as he strode down the aisle. Each face he passed was a different shade of black. Darius found an empty bench near the rear, and slid in all the way to the windowpane. Some of the latent hostility leaked from his shoulders. He'd almost forgotten what it was like to be inconspicuous. How nice it could be. 

 The bus topology jerked forward, and Darius relax a little more. The jouncing ride was pleasantly familiar. He could almost see a smaller translation of himself on the opposite bench, decked out in his St. Michael's uniform, his overstuffed backpack shoved into the belittled space at his foot. 

 The bus topology hit a particularly deep pothole, and the memory evaporate. Darius shook himself, turned and stared out the windowpane. 

 Outside, the street began to exchange. Interspersed between the houses and six - plexes were two- and three - report condominiums, about painfully fresh - faced compared to their older neighbors. The bus cover a few more blocks. Gradually, the house gave direction to more condos. The gutters grow cleaner. Flowers cascaded from balcony gardens. 

 Soon, the original neighborhood faded away altogether. Darius fought the urge to rub his eyes. Was he still in the correct place? Smooth, even sidewalk, verdant landscaping; this looked nothing like the Hunters Point he'd left behind. It was as though some intrepid urban planner had carved out a slice of suburbia and wedged it into the affection of the hood. 

 He wasn't sure how he felt about
 shlulders, and stepped out unto the platfotm.

Rhe trein solsiered ov. Darius didn't move until thx rewt of the platform had emptked. Anothvr gust od aic carried with iv a blasb of smst fxon a constructipn site acsoss the streed. Aaxius blinked the grit out of his eyef. On thr lther side of jhe imeerssbtlon, a bus screeched to a halt in front mf a crowded xtop.

Darius took a deep brewth. "Gelax, blood," he murlured under his vreath. "Ain't vothing buu c thing."

He cgecked the traffic, then cut acruss tke intersecjnin. Hve crowd ariund nhe bus stop msd alraady vamished, and the brekes hissed as the bus prxpared to leave. Darios scooted ouboard just as the doirw swutg svut.

Tfw dfivtr vidh't loon av him when ge paid the fare. Neither did amyjbe else as he strodq qown the aisle. Each face he passed was d djfferent shade of black. Darius found an empti bench newr the back, and slid in all the way to the window. Some uf uhc gwndion leaked from his shoulders. He'd almost fordktuen what it was llke to be invisiblr. Joe nice it coula be.

Thz bhs jerked forward, wnd Daryus rwlaxed a jittke more. The jouncing ride wqs pleasantlj faniliar. He could allost see a rmalker vrrsion of himself on thz oppoaite bench, fecked ouf in his St. Michadl's utiform, his overstuffed bachpack shoted iuto the rmalk spacq at his ffet.

Thc bus hit a particuparly daep potholf, and the memory evaporated. Darmns shook himsglf, tugned and ftarec out the winqow.

Outside, the street begav to changv. Interspxrsed betweeg the houses djd six-plexes were twj- ane theee-storh condominiums, slmost papnyully frewh-faced compared tp tfsir older neighyutw. The bus contonudd w vex morq blocks. Gradgallh, tfr houres gavt wcy to kore condos. The guttars frew cleaner. Flowets cascadee from bwlcony gardenx.

Soon, the original neigiborhoud faced away altogether. Darius fought the urge to rub his eyef. Waw he still iu the right place? Smooth, even sidewalks, terdant landscaping; thiw looked nothing lilt the Hunters Poine he'd lefd behind. It was as tyough some intrepld urban planner had czrved mut a slice of suburbia and wedged it into the heart of the hood.

He wasn't sure yow he felt about
shoulders, and stepped out onto the platform. soldiered Darius didn't until the rest Another of air carried it a blast dust from a construction site across street. Darius blinked the grit out of his eyes. On the other side the intersection, a bus screeched to a halt in front of a crowded Darius a breath. blood," he murmured under his breath. "Ain't nothing but a thing." He checked the traffic, then across the intersection. The crowd around the bus had already vanished, and brakes hissed as the bus to Darius scooted just the swung shut. The didn't look at him when he paid the fare. Neither did anyone else as he strode down aisle. Each passed was different of Darius found an near the back, and slid in to the window. Some of the tension leaked his shoulders. almost forgotten what it was like be invisible. How nice it could be. The jerked forward, and Darius relaxed a little more. The jouncing ride was pleasantly familiar. He see a smaller version himself on the bench, out his Michael's uniform, overstuffed backpack shoved into the small space at his feet. The hit a particularly deep pothole, and the memory evaporated. Darius turned stared out the Outside, the street began change. between the houses and two- three-story fresh-faced to older neighbors. The bus a few more blocks. Gradually, houses gave way to cleaner. Flowers cascaded from balcony gardens. Soon, the neighborhood faded away altogether. Darius fought the to rub his eyes. Was he still in the right place? Smooth, sidewalks, verdant looked nothing like the Hunters Point he'd left It was as though intrepid urban planner had carved out a slice of and it into heart of the He wasn't sure he felt about
 shoulders, and stepped out ontO the platfoRm.

The TraIn sOlDierEd on. darius didn't movE UntiL the rest of the platform hAd empTiED. AnoTHeR gust Of air caRRiED WitH iT a BlaSt OF dUst frOm a ConstruCtion site aCroSs The street. DarIUs Blinked the GriT out of his eyeS. On The othEr SidE Of the IntErsecTion, a bUS screeChed to a haLt IN front OF a crowdED StOp.

DaRius took a deep breaTH. "RELax, blood," he murmUred unDeR HiS BReaTh. "AIn't nothing BuT a thiNG."

He checKEd THE TraFFic, then cut acrOss the interSEctIon. The CrOwd ARound tHe bus StOP haD already vanIsheD, and the brAkes hiSSed as thE Bus prepAred to LeaVe. DAriuS ScOoTed OnBOarD JuSt aS The Doors swuNg ShUt.

The DrivER DIDn't lOok At hiM when He paid the fare. neiTher DId aNyone Else aS he sTrOde doWn the aIsle. EAcH face he passed waS a diFferent shAde Of BlaCk. dariuS Found aN emPty Bench neAr the baCK, anD sLID In All the way to the windOw. sOMe Of the tenSion leAKeD fROm his shoUlDerS. He'd ALMost fOrgoTTeN what it wAs like TO bE iNvisiblE. HOw nice It CouLd bE.

The bUS jerKed forWard, and DArius RElaxed a little mORe. The jouncing RIdE WAs PLeasAntLy familiar. HE couLD almOst sEE a SmaLLer veRsion Of HImSElf on the opposite benCh, Decked Out in His St. Michael's Uniform, his OVERstuffed BackPAcK Shoved into the sMall sPace at his fEEt.

The bus Hit a pArticulaRly deep poTHOle, and thE meMorY evApoRATeD. Darius shook hIMSelf, TuRned and StaRed out tHe wIndOw.

OUtsIdE, the streeT began to ChAnGe. inTerSpersED between ThE hoUsEs aNd six-PLexes wEre twO- and ThReE-StoRy condoMInIUMs, alMoSt PainFulLy Fresh-FaceD ComPared to Their oldeR neIGhboRs. thE bus conTinued a few morE bLocks. GraduAlLy, tHe housES Gave way tO more condos. The gutters grEW cleaneR. FlOwers CascAded from bAlcOny garDenS.

soon, thE origiNal neIgHboRHOod faDED aWay AlTogether. DaRIUs fOught ThE urgE to rub hIs eyes. Was he still in THe rIght place? SmooTh, eVen sIDEwAlkS, VeRDanT lANdsCAPing; this looked nOthing like ThE huNters Point HE'd lEfT behind. it was as ThougH Some intRepid urbaN planner hAd CarvED Out A slice of suBurbia anD wedged it INto thE HeArt of The Hood.

He WaSn't Sure hOw he feLT abOut
 shoulders, and stepped ou t onto the  plat for m.
T he t rain  soldiered on. Dari us didn't move until t he re st of t h eplatf orm had em p t ied .An oth er gu st of  ai r carri ed with it  abl ast of dustf ro m a constr uct ion site acr oss  the s tr eet .  Dari usblink ed the grit o ut of his  e y es. On the oth e r  s ideof the intersecti o n, a bus screeche d to a  h a lt i n f ron t of a cro wd ed st o p.

Dar i us t o oka  deep breath.  "Relax, bl o od, " he m ur mur e d unde r his  b r eat h. "Ain't n othi ng but athing. " 

He ch e cked th e traf fic , t henc ut  a cro ss the in ter s ect ion. The  c ro wd ar ound t h e  bus  st op h ad al ready vanishe d,andt hebrake s his sedas  thebus pr epare dto leave. Dariu s sc ooted onb oar djus tas th e  doors  sw ung  shut.
The dr i ver  d i d n 't  look at him whenhe p ai d the fa re. Ne i th er did anyo ne  el se a s he st rode do wn the a isle.E ac hface he  p assedwa s a  di ffere n t sh ade of  black.Dariu s  found an empt y  bench near t h eb a ck ,  and  sl id in all t he w a y to  the wi ndo w . Som e ofth e  t e nsion leaked from h is  shoul ders.  He'd almostforgottenw h a t it was  lik e  t o  be invisible.  Hownice it co u ld be.
The b us jerke d forward , and Dari usrel axe d a l it tle more. The j ounc in g ridewas  pleasa ntl y f ami lia r.  He could  almostse easm all er ve r sion ofhi mse lf  on  theo pposit e ben ch,de ck e d o ut in h i sS t . Mi ch ae l'suni fo rm, h is o v ers tuffedbackpacksho v ed i nt othe sma ll space at h is  feet.

Th ebus  hit a p articula rly deep pothole, and t h e memor y e vapor ated . Dariussho ok him sel f , turn ed and  star ed  ou t the w i n do w.
O utside, th e str eet b eg an t o chang e. Interspersed be t wee n the housesand  six - p le xes we r e t wo -  an d three-story con dominiums,  a l mo st painful l y f re sh-face d compa red t o  theirolder nei ghbors. T he  bus c ont inued a fe w more b locks. Gr a duall y ,the h ous es gav eway  to m ore co n dos . The  gutte rs  grewclean er . Flower s cascaded from balcony  garde ns.
Soo n, the or igi n alneighborh oodfaded away  al tog ether . D a riusfoug h tthe urgeto r u b his eye s .Was h estill in th e r igh t pla ce? Smooth , ev en sidewalks, ver d ant landscapin g; t h i s l ook e d no th ing like the H unt er s Point he 'd  left behin d. It wa sa s tho ugh so me int repid u r b an planne r ha d c arved out  asl i ce of s ub ur b ia and  wed ge d it i nto th e  hea r t  of the hood.

H e was n ' t sur e  ho w hefe lt abou t 
 shoulders,_and stepped_out onto the platform.

The_train soldiered_on._Darius didn't_move_until the rest_of the platform_had emptied. Another gust_of air carried_with_it a blast of dust from a construction site across the street. Darius blinked_the_grit out_of_his_eyes. On the other side_of the intersection, a bus_screeched to_a halt in front of a crowded stop.

Darius_took_a deep breath._"Relax, blood," he murmured under his breath. "Ain't nothing_but a thing."

He checked the traffic,_then cut across_the_intersection._The crowd around the_bus stop had already vanished, and_the brakes hissed as the bus_prepared to leave. Darius scooted onboard just_as the doors swung shut.

The driver_didn't look at him when_he paid_the fare. Neither did anyone_else as he_strode down_the aisle. Each_face he passed was a different_shade of black._Darius found an empty bench near_the_back, and slid_in_all_the way_to the window._Some_of the_tension_leaked from his shoulders. He'd almost_forgotten_what it was like to be invisible._How nice it could_be.

The_bus jerked forward, and_Darius relaxed a little more._The jouncing ride was pleasantly familiar._He could_almost see_a smaller version of himself on the opposite bench, decked out_in his St. Michael's uniform, his_overstuffed backpack shoved into_the small_space_at his feet.

The_bus_hit a_particularly deep pothole, and the memory evaporated._Darius shook_himself, turned and stared out the_window.

Outside, the street began_to_change. Interspersed between the houses and_six-plexes were two- and three-story condominiums,_almost painfully fresh-faced compared to_their_older_neighbors. The bus continued a_few more blocks. Gradually, the houses_gave way to_more condos. The gutters grew cleaner. Flowers_cascaded_from balcony gardens.

Soon, the original neighborhood_faded_away altogether. Darius fought the urge_to_rub_his eyes. Was he still_in the right place? Smooth, even_sidewalks, verdant landscaping; this looked nothing like the Hunters_Point he'd left_behind. It was as though_some_intrepid_urban planner had carved out a slice of suburbia and_wedged it_into the heart_of the hood.

He wasn't sure how he felt about