The microfiche whines. I spin the dial past the drama club (Connie as Tzeitel, pigtails askew) and the prom court (Connie runner-up, corsage wilting). She’s always in the second row, third from the left—half a smile, like she knew she’d leave. I print her senior photo. The machine eats my quarter. I feed it another.
Searching for Connie Carter in the static. Searching for- CONNIE CARTER in-
I don’t know her. Not really. She was my mother’s roommate for six months in 1986. My mother is dying. She whispers: “Find Connie. Tell her I’m sorry about the coat.” That’s all. No explanation. Just the coat. The microfiche whines
Searching for Connie Carter in the silence after. third from the left—half a smile