Sometime later, I awakened. Sadie had turned away from me and was curled into a tiny ball.

“Sadie, wake up!” I berated myself for being so foolish as to let myself doze off. In the distance a bell chimed five. “We’re late! We have to go!”

Hurriedly we climbed from the crawl space beneath the stairs and raced back toward the river. Daylight was beginning to dawn in the eastern sky as we crossed the bridge, the fine cracks of light that split the dark clouds widening and shining through. I scanned the far bank, searching for Krys at our meeting place. He was not there. I wondered if he had already come and we had missed him. It was nearly morning. Soon workers would appear along the riverbank and the chance to return Sadie beneath ground unseen would be gone. I braced myself to tell her that she would have to go back without the food. I could bring it to her later, but that would not be the same. She needed it now.

At last, I saw Krys, speeding toward us from the other direction, crossing the riverbank with great strides. “Hurry,” I said to Sadie, then raced to meet him. He carried a sack in his arms, much larger than I expected.

“Just potatoes,” he said, breathless from running. “That’s all I could get.” There was a note of apology in his voice.

“That’s wonderful.” Potatoes, Sadie had told me, were like gold because of how long they kept.

“This is all I can get for now. I will try to find more.”

“Thank you,” I said. Krys and I stood looking at one another for several seconds, feeling anew the connection we had once shared.

I turned toward Sadie, who hung back, several meters away. “It’s okay,” I said. “This is my friend.”

“I’m Krys,” he said, walking toward her and extending his hand. She did not take it. “Nice to meet you,” he added. I could tell from his eyes that he was taken aback by her appearance, how thin and pale she was. I had gotten used to it, but seeing her for the first time must have been something of a shock.

“Sadie,” she said, and I could see how much it took for her to trust him enough to share her name. “Thank you for the food.”

“I have to go,” Krys said, and I didn’t know whether that was true or he was just giving us a last minute alone. He passed me the sack of potatoes and our fingers brushed. His eyes met mine.

“Thank you,” I said.

“Ella, I wanted to tell you...” He faltered.

Just then, there was a clattering from beneath the bridge. I pivoted in that direction, fearful it was the police once more. But it was just a dockworker, unloading goods from his truck. “I have to help Sadie get back,” I said apologetically.

“Of course.” Disappointment flickered across his face. “Will you meet me later?” he said. “There is a room above the café on Barska where I’m staying, on the top floor.”