Welcome to Storybound, presented by Lit Hub Radio and the Podglomerate.

I'm your host, Jude Brewer.

Coming up in one minute is a story told by Lydia Yuknovich,

with original composition by Wistin and Warmac.

Oh, and make sure to stick around until after the credits

to learn more behind the scenes about how Jake Wiston approached the score. All right. Now let's begin.

This is Storybound. I'm Lydia Yuknovich.

Streetwalker.

First thing in the morning when I take out the trash, I see it.

Sringe on the lawn.

Still bloody.

It spikes and chills my memory.

Four long years of youth, sliding cold, silver glint into wading blue.

My neighborhood is turning. It's not dramatic.

It's no more or less real than TV than other places I've lived.

All those little white-lined streets.

We can posture as a nation of shock all we want.

It's still a story we know.

Somebody wants something more than their own life.

Somebody else is terrified by all that want.

It's not possible in my neighborhood to tell who has money enough to live on and who does

not.

...