Flip's question was hard, and Sera closed her eyes as she tried to grasp it. "It was the morning after a party," she said. She remembered waking up late, updating her notes on the many men she had danced with, and going to breakfast. "I was excited." She had felt that she was cultivating many options.

"I remember thinking about all the callers we would have," Sera said. She laughed, and was not sure if she was bitter or if it was silly — it was impossible to grasp what she was feeling now. "Mr. — I can't remember. Someone had tried to kiss me, and I wanted him to pay a call." She laughed again, a giggle that tumbled out of her at the absurdity of memory, of the absurdity of remembering a feeling. And everything after was so — blurry.