Helen, the director, sat behind a metal desk stacked with employee files.

She looked up and offered a brief, professional smile before sliding a thin manila folder toward me.

“The temporary transfer to our clinic on Vine Street in Cincinnati is fully approved, Mara,” Helen said.

“It is a twelve-week clinical intake assignment, to begin tomorrow morning at eight o’clock.”

“Thank you, Helen,” I said.

“I understand this is incredibly sudden,” she said, resting her hands on the edge of the desk.

“Your supervisor, Julie, spoke very highly of your three years here.