At night she becomes a tender conspirator. Over late cups of tea or the hush between television shows, she unbuttons stories she keeps pinned to her chest. Childhood mischiefs bloom bright and ridiculous; the hardships she rarely names are given breath; the old loves and quieter regrets spill out like coins across the table. Her laughter is looser, sharper—less worried about propriety. Her hands, which during the day move with efficient care, now trace memories on the rim of a mug.