“Are you leaving already?” Ms. Sky Raymond, Zera’s colleague at the university, asked as she saw her walking towards the car.

They have never been very close since she started working here over five years ago. She was a few years older, with brown eyes and black hair, and always wore a bright smile on her face. They weren’t enemies, either. They exchanged hellos and good mornings whenever they saw each other. At first, she thought her smile was a friendly gesture towards her, ...