Richard sat in a hard plastic chair across from her and set his familiar blue folder on the edge of the desk.

He adjusted the folder twice until it was perfectly parallel with the edge.

Linda took the seat closest to the narrow window overlooking the concrete parking garage.

She uncrossed her ankles and set her purse delicately on the floor.

I parked my transport chair near the door and gripped the rubber wheels.

The room felt deliberately cold, as if it had been designed to keep people awake during hard conversations.

“The state requires full disclosure of your intent,” Ms.