I felt empty at the end of the work day, desolate. In the cafeteria the din of the office Cinco de Mayo party swelled suddenly. I slipped away. No one saw me. Far as I knew.

Outside it looked like it was going to rain. A man jaywalked across Carmine Street, staring at his phone. Someone was trying to peddle knockoff cosmetics on that wide sidewalk on 6th Ave. by the station, stopping every woman walking by. His line was: “Do you use makeup?”

Never ask a customer something where they might say no.