In recent years sound therapy has boomed in popularity. Theories that sound can reach the soul spread like wildfire. Before Dawn could register the change there were posters up in every window. New wave psychics advertised on every telephone pole.

"Come unlock the secret to your life." They claimed.

"Fix all your problems with one sound session!" In bold multi colored letters. All of them of course a mimic of current trends, Piggy backing off the success of Dr. Marvin Palmer. Every news station in the country was praising Dr. Palmer for his groundbreaking research. What Dawn had seen of the man told her he was a liar. A liar about what Dawn couldn't put her finger on. But a liar he was. Despite hearing stories that praised the man for helping cure mental illness, rid people of addictions and cure modern loneliness. They all said he saved lives from the brink of suicide, could paint the world in new light to those who only saw grey. But she was set on him being more than he seemed.

Too good to be true, She thought every time she heard the name Dr. Marvin Palmer. Today, like most days, she was headed to Ahn’s. A small family run shop she'd began to frequent a few years back. She had a decent relationship with the owner Bang Ahn and his wife. He never said her name and Dawn never bothered asking. Seemed too intrusive. She always told herself if the lady wanted her to know she'd tell her. And so far she hadn't. What can be done? She checked her watch, 8:36pm. Missing the bus was actually the perfect end to the day. She had wanted initially to wait out the rain under the protection of the bus stop awning, maybe catch some shut eye. But a few junkies strolled in and she wanted no part in their, "hey pretty girl," or "aren't you a sight for sore eyes." It was all so bland and dated. She'd heard it so many times she didn't even hate the attention. Just wished they'd expand their vocabulary to new things. After all, she couldn't piss them off. They were her neighbors where neighbors mattered. The streets.

Dawn passed by a TV repair shop. Behind the display window was a journalist interviewing Dr. Marvin. The rerun from earlier in the day played on ten different sized screens.

"So doctor," she read on the subtitles. "What's the next step for sound therapy? We know you have something exciting in the works." The man gestures and the word "applause", showed on the bottom.

It panned to the doctor.

"Well we are working on something new, less therapy, more an experience." The doctor shifted on the red sofa. "See, we believe that sound can reach the soul. And because of that why can't we transport ourselves to a time we didn't live. Be someone we'll never be. From any time period." The subtitles stopped. Dawn had to admit. That did sound cool. But who was she kidding? That kind of thing would cost more than she could ever get from recycling. Especially with the downtown homeless creeping into her turf.

"This new aspect of sound therapy is currently in development, we are offering financial compensation to those who participate as beta testers."

That itchy feeling washed over her. "Too good to be true." She said, and adjusted the hood of her yellow plastic poncho. She kept walking. Kim's was just a few blocks down. The street was slick with rain. Street Lights bounced off puddles. She tilted her head and saw the reflection of a neon sign in the road. She opened her umbrella and then took out her camera from under her poncho. Crouched down she imagined herself a yellow blob on the sidewalk. A neon stain like every sign that lined the streets. She fixed the lens and snapped her shot. She frowned. 

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 "Not too bad." She said slowly. If she was lucky a newspaper or freelance journalist would buy it off her.

Kim's was a small shop. Barred windows plastered from the inside with ads that rotated every week. See you had to pay for your spot on the window at Kim's. Nothing was free. But the owners were nice and Dawn never stole. She always came in with money and bought whatever she could. It was mainly about the conversation. Not the purchase. The doorbell rang above her.

"Welcome." Mr. Ahn said from behind the counter. He was a heavy set man, balding on the top but had friendly glasses and a nice smile. That's all that really mattered anyway. Behind him were magazines of celebrity drama, bikini models, and shirtless men. He was reading a magazine with a bikini model on it.

"Not worried the wife will catch you?" Dawn said, walking to the chip aisle.

Bang looked up from his magazine but his eyes stayed glued to the page. "No, wife went to bed early today. Very tired."

"I see, any new gum flavors, pink grapefruit’s getting kinda old."

The old man let out a pensive, "Hm" and set down his magazine. He walked along the wall and looked at Dawn from over the aisles.

"You wait, I think I have some in the back."

"Thank you." She yelled as he disappeared into the backroom. She looked at the assortment of flavors she'd tried and didn't like. Others she had no idea the flavor of. Bang's wife had told her she'd teach her Korean but must've forgotten. Dawn didn't want to bring it up. She went with tried and true. Barbecue classics. She walked to the back of the store. Where the fridges were, and looked at the canned sodas. She considered a Dr. Everest, but decided against it. She'd much rather stock up on whatever new gum Mr. Ahn had. She walked over to the counter and the store owner reappeared with a pink box Dawn immediately recognized. He sat on his stool and set the box down. There was a baseball player batting a grapefruit on the top. He tore it open and took out a few packs.

"How many you want this time." He said.

"That magazine really doin’ a number on you huh." She smiled.

He raised an eyebrow. “What’s that mean?”

"Nothing, just two this time. I'm gonna go get a soda." She pointed to the fridge.

"Get me a cola." He yelled when Dawn was at the fridges. She shot a thumbs up in the air and took the two drinks to the counter.

"So two pink grapefruit gums and a Dr. Everest."

"That's it." She said, he didn't bother to punch in the numbers.

"8.57."

"Really?"

"Keep a secret discount." He said putting a finger to his lips.

"I see you Mr. Ahn." She said, grabbing her bag.

"Mrs. Ahn won’t hear a thing from me." she said a little louder than normal. 

"I won't hear what hm!" Hurried footsteps came from the staircase in the back room. 

"Ah shit." he whispered. 

"Good luck Mr. Ahn." Dawn said, waving.

Outside the sound of the cold breeze was disrupted by frantic arguing from the store owners. She cracked open the soda, drank down half and let out a loud burp.

Not like anyones around anyway, She thought to herself taking out a fresh stick of gum. She shoved it in her mouth and put the packs in her poncho.

She listened to the sounds of the city.

The sounds of cars racing in the distance, sirens, rain. They all mixed to create one word.

Home.