Do not offer transportation.
Do not mention pie unless relevant.
Claire?
Then I crossed out number five.
Then circled it.
Then covered the circle with the water bottle.
The page beneath held three attempted opening statements.
I deeply regret—
Too corporate.
I never meant to hurt you—
True and entirely beside the point.
Please understand—
A threatening beginning to almost any sentence.
I tore off the page and folded it into a square small enough to deny under questioning.
My phone rang at seven-oh-two.
Ellie’s name appeared on the screen.
I waited two rings so she would not know I had been holding the phone.
Then I answered too quickly and dropped it.
It hit my knee, bounced once, and landed facedown on the rug.
“Excellent.”
Ellie’s voice came through the carpet.
“Should I call someone?”
“No.”
“Are you injured?”
