Chapter 22 Surprise Visit

• In the dimly lit, Broadway street of New York City, a yellow taxi cab came to a smooth halt in front of Marisa and Clarabelle's apartment. The soft glow of the streetlamp above cast a warm, amber hue on the taxi as it came to a halt.
• Marisa elegantly extended her slender hand into the depths of her supple, well-worn leather purse, the material yielding softly to her touch. With a sense of deliberate grace, she retrieved her wallet, fingers brushing against its contours, while the faint scent of aged leather wafted upwards to meet her senses.
• In a display of measured consideration, Marisa kindly tallied the appropriate fare and a generous token of appreciation, folding the bills with deft precision. These notes were then gently placed into the awaiting palm of the cab driver, his hand extending toward her like an open book of quiet gratitude. A slight, but unmistakably warm, smile curled upon the driver's lips when he saw the tip given to him by Marisa.