Elio was amazing as he worked the room, shaking hands, smiling, and laughing. When women flocked toward him, he’d pull me forward and introduce me, then tell them something about me they could relate to. I fell in step with him and did my best to memorize faces with a smile and an interested word. One moment I’d be shaking hands with someone, and at the same time I’d be answering someone else’s question. Faces blurred and names went in and out, but I kept up, not once showing my growing fatigue. When men gathered about me, Elio would pull me in a little closer as he continued to chat. I wondered if he even realized he was doing it. Everyone seemed kind and welcoming and full of congratulations. Now and then, someone would pry a little too hard as they asked questions about my past, and Eli
