"The Great American City"

3 hours difference couldn't whither their love.

Sundays were mandatory, all other hours of the week highly welcomed. AT&T had been a bitch but Lou got the plan. And $20 a month more meant more minutes to hear Lilly's low but warm pitch in the receiver caked in his spit.

She liked Chicago, and Lilly's heart was won. Lou was losing, and he loved his sister with all he could before she disappeared into that corner bistro on the riverfront or the street crossing out in Wicker Park somewhere.

She was all he had left. But never would he go out to that great American city-- he didn't have the heart. Lilly had ran off with it, miles ahead of Lou. He was already there before he'd ever want to be.