The next week Chloe asked to examine the accompanying correspondence.

She read the documents with the care of a future researcher, distinguishing what they showed from what I merely remembered.

She found the record of my refusal to attend a meeting and read it twice.

“It’s strange,” she said.

“A whole life can turn on someone saying no to a calendar invitation.”

“Yes.”

She placed the paper back in its folder.

“I don’t think I want to talk about this anymore today.”