I watched Charlotte slide past the car window.

The city looked ordinary, full of people stopping for groceries, waiting for buses, taking children to piano lessons.

I wanted an ordinary life so badly that it hurt.

PART 10

Dennis called late that night from a number I didn’t recognize.

“You went behind my back to the board?”

I moved the phone away from my ear until he stopped shouting.

“I met with an independent committee after receiving a written request,” I said.