ELENA
Friday arrived. I woke at six and stood at the hotel window with my tea.
Today is the day.
Sophia called at nine.
"Gerald confirmed. Ten o'clock."
"I'll be there."
"How are you?"
"Ready."
"Elena." Her voice was careful. "Whatever he says in that room, you don't have to respond. You don't have to engage. You just have to sit there and watch him sign."
"I know."
"He will say something."
"I know that too."
"I'll see you there," she said.
I wore the grey dress.
I had laid out something else the night before. It was something darker, something that felt more like armor. But standing in front of the hotel mirror that morning the grey dress was what I reached for.
Sophia was already in the lobby when I arrived with her jacket on. Legal pad under her arm. She looked at me on
