OPAL

A knock on my door startles me, mostly because I wasn't expecting it since it's an hour before lunch.

It's Gladys once more. She puts her hands together and says, "Excuse me, Luna, but you have a visitor downstairs. A woman named Gwen Sanchez."

I sit up so quickly that my head spins. "Thank you, Gladys. I'll be right downstairs!"

I meet my best friend in the parlor. We embrace for a long time, saying nothing. Gwen couldn't make it to the wedding due to travel, and I was devastated. The ...