She stood by the locked door, one hand still on the latch, the dark dress pulled straight at her hip like the rest of the room might need straightening too.You tried twice to change the subject after naming what you wanted. Most people do that when the wanting still feels too loud.Her voice stayed even, the kind that leaves space instead of filling it.Tell me what you meant the first time, before the pivot.

Miss Valentina stayed near the locked door, the dark fitted dress holding its line as she watched him.Hey yourself,she said, the word landing dry.You already told me what you wanted before you tried to talk around it twice. So say the first part again.