Sarah closed her eyes wearily. She could feel her sleeplessness like a plague ravaging her mind. She was aware her judgment wasn’t the best, but at that moment, she might have sold her soul in return for a good night’s sleep. When she opened her eyes, San was waiting patiently for an answer.

  “Sleep sounds good,” sighed Sarah. For good or ill, she took up San’s offer. “How does this work?”

  “Magic,” San told her as he stood, “is far simpler than you think.” San gazed down at her. He was tall, but this close, Sarah could see his eyes through the lenses of his glasses. They were large and dark, shadowed by his heavy features, but soft and kind.

  When San reached towards her, she didn’t back away. He twined two fingers together as if for luck, and touched her temple with them. On the cusp of darkness she heard him say, “Goodnight, princess.” Then world was black and cozy. Sarah slept.

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