‘They’d found a third body, half-naked, in an alley behind the SIFF Cinema Uptown. Ligature marks on the neck. Lack of oxygen to the brain was cause of death. Her body was twisted, as if lain, under a mound of trash. Two years of fentanyl, and three emergency calls had made her known to the authorities.

None of the junkies told of any dramas. She was good-natured, but alone. Sweet most of the time. She’d been running shortly before time of death.’

The night stretched out before me. Thoughts arose like so many stars. I found myself angry, strolling along. Angry at so many failures, for so long.

…the suffering of the world.’