Who had found her way into her body.
Who had spent twenty years building something real.
Who was standing in the doorway in the black dress with the very red hair that she was not apologizing for.
Alison was beside me.
A woman came over.
She had been in my AP English class.
Her name was Margot.
She said: Claire?
She
said it with the genuine quality of someone who is updating a file and who finds the update pleasant.
I said: Margot.
She said: oh my god.
She said: you look incredible.
She said it with the specific sincerity of someone who means it.
Not a compliment with an agenda.
Just: here is what I am seeing.
I said: thank you.
She said: what are you doing? Are you back in Millbrook?
I said: I’m in Portland. I own a fitness studio.
She said: that makes so much sense.
