Daniel shifted in his chair, but Elena did not look away.
“I still have days when sadness or fear becomes louder than it should. I have a doctor. I have people I call. I take care of myself differently now.”
“Can you forget what’s real?”
“Sometimes I can misunderstand things when I am overwhelmed. But I have learned how to notice the signs and ask for help.”
Silas absorbed this.
“Would you tell me?”
“If I was having a difficult day?”
“Yes.”
“I would.”
“Even if you thought it would scare me?”
“I would tell you in a way you could understand.”
Silas looked at Daniel.
“That’s a better answer.”
Daniel lowered his eyes.
“It is.”
Elena opened the folder and removed several sheets of paper.
The first was the agreement.
She slid it across the table.
Daniel read it slowly.
The document stated that Elena had voluntarily agreed not to contact Daniel or Silas without written permission. At the bottom was Daniel’s name in dark ink.
