Sitting ahead of Peter was a woman he considered a kind of "in-between." She
wore silver earrings, which he thought would be sold soon, and a white lace 
blouse. Her hair was unwashed. She seemed on the cusp of once having something 
close to what Peter had just left—clothes, a home, possessions, maybe a
family—and having nothing but her own life. Every once in a while she said
something softly to herself and then turned to see if anyone was listening.