Bill of Human Wrongs

Claire looked at Eve in disbelief. What were the chances they would be here at the same time again, at this crazy time of night? And this anger, it made no sense. Claire wasn’t in the mood to hear it.

“Eve, this isn’t a good time to yell at me, I’ve had a tough few hours. You can sit if you decide to be cordial. Otherwise, please go away.” Claire’s voice sounded tired, not from lack of sleep, but rather, stress.

She watched as Eve sat and stared at her intently. Eve threw her purse on the table in front of her.

“So tell me your problem, Eve. But be nice.”

Eve dug through her purse, finding the two halves of the business card and pieced them together on the table. “This is yours, isn’t it?”

Claire’s eyes looked down at the puzzle pieces and nodded. She picked them up and noticed her handwriting, her personal phone number written on their backs. “How did you get this? I don’t remember…” Her recollection of the night she met Rachel played in her mind. “I gave this to Rachel, how did you get it?”

“She forgot it. I heard you talking.” She pointed to the booth behind Claire. “I listened to the two of you the first night I came here, she called you a Senator. I heard her say that you are an advocate for women’s issues. And I needed help. So I picked it up as I was leaving. You were my hope, Claire. So you must understand my disappointment, my anger when I called the number only to discover that it doesn’t exist. All my faith in you turned into despair.” Eve’s voice was growing with agitation. “Even after the two of you were so rude to me last night, I still couldn’t get you out of my mind.” A tear fell over her face. “Why? What possible reason would you have to carry around this fake promotion for something you’re not? Not that I ever bought into the Senator title. We all know that there are no women Senators.” Her head jerked with a little gurgle, a choke in her throat that convinced Claire of her agony.