It could not declare me the owner by telephone or issue a judge’s order.

Sophia was handling that separate part.

I had always preferred problems with one process and one person responsible.

This one had a property case, a title review, a money trail, and eventually a criminal referral.

They touched each other without becoming the same proceeding.

Keeping them separate helped me see what had actually changed each day.

Megan returned with photographs of flowers before I was discharged.

White roses filled tall glass vases.