Fueled by her big breakfast, and the damn good coffee they served at The Larder, Mia headed to the bookshop with a spring in her step. It had been an eventful week, one that had taken its toll on her sleep and her peace of mind, but on Sunday one had no choice but to let it all go and relax. She was in her own neighborhood, which, for now, had no Pink Bean affiliation yet. This was where she felt good, strutting along King Street, nodding at Sue from the juice bar and Ahmed who was opening up his kebab shop. The people she had known for years and who made up the backdrop of her life. It was in Newtown that she had become someone else, that she had freed herself from the shackles of her old behavior, from the relentless soundtrack of her father’s words in her ear. From the girl she once was. A girl who had deserved to be loathed for sure, but she had been that girl and as disgusting as her behavior had been—cocky, cruel and trying to impress the wrong people—at some point between then and now, Mia had found it inside herself to forgive. If she couldn’t forgive herself for her past mistakes, what point was there in going on? Forgiving didn’t mean forgetting. She would always remember, but only she knew how lost she had been at the time, how lonely a teenager with a dozen friends can actually be.

Mia stopped in front of the bookshop window and checked to see what had changed. There was one new book on display, but all the rest had remained the same. The bell dinged as she went inside and Annie, forever positioned on a high stool behind the counter, gave her a wave. Most times she came here, Mia was the only patron in the shop, and it was no different this Sunday. Other people would sometimes come in, but just browse the books—sometimes even being so bold as to take a picture of a cover with their phone so they could get the book online later—and never buy anything.

Mia went up to the counter. “What have you got for me today, Annie?”

Annie’s face lit up at Mia’s question. “Are you in the mood for something old or something new?”

Mia pretended to think about this, even though Annie asked her the same question every time. “Old, of course,” Mia replied.

“There are so many good new books out, Mia, you really have to start on them sooner rather than later, especially…” Annie paused.

“Especially what?”

Annie’s face darkened. “I got another offer on the shop. I’m not sure I can still afford to refuse this one.”

“Pages?” Mia asked.