She Was Sitting In My Front-Row Seat Holding My Novel — Smiling Like She Had Stolen My Life

can be destabilizing, and I want to protect her dignity even now.”

There it was again.

Protect.

Dignity.

Destabilizing.

The words of a man trying to wrap a rope in ribbon.

Celeste arrived separately.

She wore a plain black dress and no jewelry.

Her hair was pulled back.

For the first time since I had met her, she looked at me without performance.

I did not look continue reading …