Eleanor James
They say a leader’s strength is tested in silence, how steady she stands when no one’s clapping, when the room is cold, and the walls whisper doubt. If that’s true, then I’ve been standing through a goddamn blizzard.
Every morning, I press my hair back into place, swipe red across my lips, and smile at cameras that don’t care whether my husband is dead or simply… gone.
Devon has locked himself away for weeks. I’ve tried to see him. I’ve tried to force his door open with my voice, with my tears. But nothing gets through anymore, not even me.
The country is buzzing. “Where is the President?”
“Is he sick?”
“Is he in rehab?”
“Is the First Lady covering up a scandal?”
I’ve had to lie more times than I care to count.
“He’s taking time to recover from the recent securit
