Nicole arrived home from the morning shift at the coffee shop to find her belongings—what few she had—piled outside the door to her apartment. Her clothes were stacked in a heap on the front stoop. A large duffel bag with wheels stood upright on the edge of the driveway. Lying on the grass were a pillow, a deflated air mattress, and a plastic grocery bag from Vons filled with various health and beauty products. Elena had...

Jeremy didn’t notice her when he boarded the subway. He was too focused on getting a seat, scanning the cars for any spaces not yet filled by commuters heading into the city. He saw a free spot on the third car and when the doors opened he headed straight for the empty seat and snagged it, leaving the rest of the boarding passengers to cling to the overhead bars that ran the length of the car. He knew his mother would dis...