“Let’s　go　somewhere　to　celebrate；”　Dan　decided。　Vanessa　deserved　it。

Vanessa　smiled　giddily。　For　a　second；　she　imagined　what　Hollis　would　say　if　he　heard　about　the　grant；　but　then　she　pushed　the　thought　out　of　her　mind。　She　didn’t　need　him　anymore。　“Can　we　go　to　that　hummus　place？　I’m　starving！”

“Sure。”　Dan　turned　on　his　heel；　heading　toward　the　hole…in…the…wall　on　the　corner　that　had　a　different　name　every　month。　He　loved　that　Vanessa　considered　hummus　celebratory。　“I’m　hungry　too。　They　just　had　those　teeny…tiny　chicken　skewers　and　pigs　in　a　blanket　at　the　Iowa　thing。”

Vanessa　wrinkled　her　nose。　“Besides　that；　how　was　it？”　She　asked　as　she　fell　into　step　with　Dan。　She’d　forgotten　he　wouldn’t　be　in　New　York　next　year；　either。

“It　was　amazing；”　he　told　her　eagerly。　“A　couple　of　the　professors　were　there；　and　it’s　really　intense。　These　are　all　guys　who’ve　won　Pushcarts　and　been　short…listed　for　the　National　Book　Award。”　He　shrugged　and　opened　the　door。　The　restaurant　was　empty　except　for　one　lone　employee　behind　the　counter。　“I　just　can’t　wait　to　really　work　with　them；　you　know？　Just　immerse　myself　in　writing；”　he　said　as　he　sat　at　one　of　the　rickety　tables　in　the　corner。

“I’ll　order。　I　know　what　you　always　get。”　Vanessa　headed　to　the　counter　and　returned　with　a　tray　laden　with　pita　bread　and　bowls　of　hummus；　and　falafel　balls。　Dan　took　a　bite　of　falafel；　then　passed　the　rest　to　Vanessa。　Vanessa　smiled。　They　always　used　to　share　food。

“Sorry；”　Dan　pulled　his　hand　back；　as　if　he　saw　Vanessa’s　hesitation　as　rejection。

“No；　I　want　it；”　she　said；　accepting　the　half…eaten　falafel。

“So；　are　you　really　ready　to　leave　New　York？”　Dan　asked。　It　was　weird　to　think　about　Vanessa　leaving。　Even　though　he　hadn’t　really　spent　an