The wheels of the plane screeched against the runway as it landed, jostling the passengers slightly in their seats. Riele sat silently by the window, her hands folded in her lap, her gaze fixed on the landscape blurring past. The city felt colder now, duller, as if it knew that she was returning not to celebration.

Beside her, Jay reached over and gently rested his hand over hers. She didn't look at him, but she didn’t pull away either. Kim, sitting on the other side of the aisle, glanced at ...