Sorority

After we've looked at the photographs, as we're walking out, Monalisa says to me about the model, "She's also cut."

"What?"

"I saw, on her arms."

Rustom later confirms this. I've met Marika at least a half-dozen times, but I've never noticed the cuts. Monalisa knew within five minutes of meeting her. The bar girl noticed some tension on the model's face, noticed she was talking a little too much, laughing a little too much. So she looked at her wrists. Later I find out the model's story. She is the mistress of a married man with three children...

Her lover will never leave his wife, so Marika marks time on her wrists. There must be a citywide sorority of these woman who've slit their wrists and survived, who recognize one another automatically. A sisterhood of the slashed.