I had prepared for shouting and I have since realized that I had, in some way, been looking forward to it, because being shouted at would have been a transaction — a payment, after which something is settled.

She was worse than that.

She was calm and precise and she answered every question I asked, in order, and she asked me nothing at all.

“Did you know when you signed?”

“No.

Eight days after.”

“Did you ever try to tell me?”

And she said: “Twice.”