Chapter 33

When I saw Cindy the next day, she was as pale as a sheet, and there were dark bruises under her eyes. She was petite to begin with, and she had very fair skin. At that moment, she looked frail and sick, like a white rose that had been left out in the cold. She would stir compassion in anyone who looked at her. Caroline saw her status on social media and sent me a screenshot. It was a desolate picture of her, taken from the back. There was a caption, which said, "You are reasonable and understanding only because no one cares about you." Caroline looked eager for gossip. "Did they have an argument?" I wondered about it myself. After all, she and Bruce hadn't been seeing each other for long. I wondered if it had anything to do with the hickey on the back of my neck. Cindy's condition persisted until after lunch. Just as Caroline asked me on WhatsApp about whether to go and comfort her, the door to the office opened. Bruce had arrived, and he was carrying afternoon te