Richard

When she finally returned, her face was flushed, her hands shaking slightly.

“Is everything alright, darling?” I asked with concern. “You look upset. What happened?”

“A friend,” she said, wrapping her arms around herself. “He is having some problems.”

“He?” I let my eyebrows rise slightly. “I thought you said you didn’t have any male friends.”

“What? No! I said, ‘she’—” She caught herself, realizing her mistake. “My bad. I misspoke. Yes, a female ...