It isn't late at night, but it is late in the year, and the sun went about its business quickly ere it departed.

Jacqueline Somer walks beside a busy road, with her back to oncoming traffic, which she's read you aren't supposed to do but it makes the stupid LED headlights somewhat less unbearable.

She flinches every time a car passes her.

Cars are loud, and she has enhanced hearing.

She'd be much happier, she thinks, in a world without automobiles.