The cab, driven by the same man as yesterday pulled into the yard at 8:04 a.m. Mari pecked Jade on the cheek and squeezed her arm. An image shot into her head—of Mari bundled in a thick fur coat, red hair squashed under a fuzzy Cossack-style hat. The picture came with a deep feeling of estrangement that made her stomach turn over. 

“I’ll see you soon,” Mari said, popping Jade’s bubble of emotion.

“S-sure,” was all she could push betwe...