Every time my brother-in-law drove me home, I would lose consciousness and wake up with unexplained aches and pains. My husband would only laugh and say, “You’re just out of shape, that’s all.” After the fourth ride, I secretly slipped a voice recorder into my purse and said nothing. That night, I listened to a phone conversation between the two of them that revealed my blackouts had never been accidental.

He had arranged circumstances that made me tired and then pointed to the fatigue as proof.

My hands shook when I closed the folder.

Priya asked whether I wanted a break.

I said yes.

For the rest of the afternoon we walked beside a lake and talked about everything except Julian.

The sky was overcast, and the path smelled of wet leaves.

I could not undo what had happened, but I could still choose where my next step went.

PART 11