I walked up the stairs to the master bedroom.

The closet doors hung open, showing empty racks and bare shelves.

I found a small silver cufflink under the radiator.

It was engraved with the letter E.

I picked it up, walked to the window, and threw it into the high grass below.

I did not want anything left behind.

***

The office of the New Leaf Foundation was located on the third floor of a brick building downtown.

The windows looked out over a small park with oak trees.

We had three desks, a row of filing cabinets, and a small kitchen in the back.

Sarah, our first legal advocate, was organizing files at the reception desk.

She was twenty-four, with a small scar near her eyebrow that she no longer tried to cover with makeup.

“We have four appointments scheduled for this afternoon,” Sarah said.

“Are the court intake forms ready?” I asked.

“They are,” she said.

“The local shelter is sending two women over at two o’clock,” she added.

“I will take the first one,” I said.

I walked into my office and sat behind my desk.