New York City, May 26, 2015

★★★★ The indoor air had held a minatory heaviness, but outside the humid breeze was forbearing, the plaza under its translucent green awning of trees was busy with people gone out to face the day. The twin subway stairs downtown inhaled fresh currents from above. Up on the roof the bone-tinged glare hurt the eyes and made them water, but the rest of the body sank into the warmth. A new birdsong sounded, and something barred and dun — a house finch, most likely, in the blurry light — tugged at the wine-colored maple leaves. The way home was not the least bit hot. One white-brick facade, on the daily route, somehow now stood out luminously from its neighbors.