There was no trap.

He was just a lonely old man who wanted someone to pretend to be his daughter before he died.

That’s all it was.

That’s all it ever was.” I heard the pleading in my own voice, the desperate need for this stranger to confirm the simple, sad, comprehensible story I had been living inside for six weeks.

The man sat down across from me, unhurried, and folded his hands.

“My name is Mr.