On the morning I returned to the Gray Institute, 12 researchers were waiting outside the entrance.
The youngest among them called my name through her tears and ran forward to embrace me.
Standing there, I remembered Keller's warning that I should remain quietly in the role of Mrs. Thorne to avoid making a fool of myself.
No one at the institute thought I was ridiculous. They had been waiting years to hear me speak in my own voice.
My first seminar was limited to researchers with the highest level of security clearance. Even so, the auditorium was packed. As I stood outside the doors, my palms began to sweat.
"Want me to walk in with you?" Adrian asked.
I shook my head.
He opened the doors, but remained outside.
"Go on," he said. "They're ready for you."
That day, for the first tim
