Chapter Twenty-Four

Valerie sat out on the rooftop, her feet propped up on the brick wall that circled it in order to keep anyone from falling off the edge. She held a scalding cup of coffee in her hands, close to her face, the steam swirling out of the top in wafting circles and bathing her skin. With her eyes closed, she inhaled the rich aroma of the coffee, allowing it to tug at the sleepy edges of her mind as the sun slowly peeked over the horizon. She loved sunrises, almost as much as she loved sunsets. They offered a fresh slate. Yesterday was over, and a person had a new opportunity to start over again. Sometimes, that’s all that was needed, a chance to start over.

As she opened her eyes, she stared out at the orange and pink light as it broke the darkness, forcing its way onto the world. Soon, it would rise even higher, chasing away the shadows and dark corners where people did their dirty deeds. Grinning, she took a sip of her coffee, the heat scorching her lips with the first tou