She is younger than I expected.
Mid twenties, slight, with the careful composed energy of someone who has spent several years managing something alone and has learned to carry it without showing the weight. She is pretty in an understated way, dark circles under her eyes that concealer has not fully addressed, wearing a jacket that is good quality but older.
She sits across from my desk and looks at me with the direct gaze of someone who practiced this on the drive over.
"I know this is unexpected," she says.
"It is," I agree. "But you are here so tell me why."
She exhales. "Derek called me last week. About formalizing things legally. He was... different... from the last time we spoke. More present. Like something had shifted in him." She pauses. "He mentioned you. Not in
