I'll be along then, once my shift ends. Till then... [He reaches in and cuts the transmission.]

* * *

[It might be several hours later, well toward what passes for late evening, when she might hear soft, even footsteps on the cobblestones outside and a precise knock at the door.]

[When she opens the door, she'll find him there, a basket of pomegranates under his arm.]

It seemed proper to bring along a gift: a branch of pomegranates grew out of my wall, so I've been gathering them as they come close to ripening.