It was windy today. The fire caught fast. The flames licked my hand, and the sting was so sharp I almost threw the letter I’d just grabbed right back into the brazier.

The spot was already flushing red. I blew on it a few times, then got up and went to the bathroom, turned on the faucet, and ran cold water over it for a while.

When the pain finally eased, I dried my hand with a towel and picked up the letter sitting on the counter.

When I’d tossed ...