in the city of borrowed names, no person uses the name they were given. when you arrive at the gate the gatekeeper asks you what name you would like to wear today, and that is the name on every paper you sign in the city, and that is the name people call out across the market when they want your attention. tomorrow you may pick another. there is no register.
the city of borrowed names is a small city. it is built on a slow river and it has more bridges than streets. there are two clocks, one fast and one slow, and which one is correct depends on the day of the week and on whether you are inside or outside the wall.
i was there for three days. i went by amber and then by song and then by amber again. i was a different woman each time. i miss all three of them.