The drive took longer than expected, as traffic thinned and buildings lost their polish. Storefronts grew smaller, sidewalks uneven, and children played near chain link fences with bicycles missing paint and dignity.
When the car finally stopped in front of a narrow brick building with peeling trim, Madeline stepped out onto the pavement, her heels clicking sharply against concrete that bore decades of neglect.
The number above the door was crooked.
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