Chapter 6 - THE MESSAGE UNDER THE DOOR
The first warning arrived three days later.
A white envelope slid beneath our apartment door.
No stamp.
No return address.
Inside was a photograph of Sofia leaving her university building.
On the back, someone had written:
SMART GIRLS KNOW WHEN TO STOP COUNTING.
I called Miriam immediately.
She told me to preserve the envelope and contact the police.
An officer arrived within the hour.
I gave a statement.
Sofia sat beside me, pale and furious.
When the officer left, she turned toward me.
“This is because of your new job?”
“I think so.”
“Then you're quitting.”
I looked at the photograph.
Someone had followed my sister.
Someone had watched her walk out of class.
My hands began trembling.
“I can't just pretend nothing happened.”
“Why not?”
“Because whoever did this is threatening us.”
Sofia stared.
“Exactly.”
I looked at her.
“And if I stop, what happens to the next person who notices something?”
She shook her head.
“You can't save everyone.”
“I know.”
“Then save yourself.”
Her voice broke.
“Please.”
I pulled her into my arms.
For the first time in years, I felt the terrible weight of being both sister and parent.
I wanted to protect her.
May you like
But I also wanted to be someone who didn't surrender every time a powerful man became angry.
And I didn't know whether I could be both.
