Rachel returned and took it from me.
“You are terrible at packing when emotional.”
“I’m terrible at packing generally.”
“That’s why your luggage always contains nine shirts and no underwear.”
“That happened once.”
“Paris remembers.”
She folded the dress properly and placed it in the suitcase.
“I made a mess,” I said.
“Yes.”
“Could you pretend to misunderstand me?”
“No.”
I sat on the edge of the bed.
Rachel continued packing.
“I should have told her.”
“Yes.”
“I kept thinking I was protecting something.”
“You were.”
I looked at her.
“For a few days, you protected the version of this that was easiest for you.”
“That sounds bad.”
“It wasn’t all bad.”
She zipped an interior pocket.
“You met someone as Annie. You needed that. But you forgot Ellie was also making choices.”
“I know.”
Rachel glanced at me.
“You may say it this time.”
My phone rested in my hand.
No messages.
Ellie had asked for time.
I opened our conversation anyway.
