It is astonishing, looking back, how rare that had become in her life, and how much it turned out to be worth.

Because everyone else in that building wanted something from Edith, even the kind ones, even the ones who meant only good.

The nurses wanted her cooperation.

The director wanted her to be an easy resident who didn’t generate incident reports.

Her son wanted her to stop making scenes so he wouldn’t have to take time off work.

Every relationship in her life had, buried somewhere inside it, a request — a thing the other person needed her to be or to do.

And when every interaction you have carries a hidden ask, you learn to meet all of them with your guard up, scanning for the angle, because there always is one.