The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2017

ou will embody a city of millions. You need not be them, but know that they are part of you.”

You will embody a city of millions. You need not be them

I should consider meditation to better attune myself to the city’s needs

’m the midwife, see

This is the lesson: great cities are like any other living things, being born and maturing and wearying and dying in their turn

Yes. The city is breathing easier

and I ain’t never been right in the head

when I turn back, it’s still just paint on a rooftop

big, heavy gust of moist air tickles the hairs on my skin

and then the throat sighs behind me