I take a deep breath, trying to psych myself up to going next door.

I have no choice; I remind myself.

When I enter his office, Stephen is reading the files as I'd asked him to. He looks up.

"I've put them into two piles; the ones I've read so far, I mean."

I nod.

"These ones seem pretty self-explanatory, but these ones could use a bit of an explanation if that's okay."

"Sure..."

I pick up the first folder and begin explaining it to him. It's ...