“Well, I guess I may as well just say it,” Ashley said, uncrossing her legs and sitting up slightly straighter. “I’m here to respectfully request a transfer.” Once the words were out, she pursed her lips and then exhaled through her nose, like a weight was beginning to be lifted off of her shoulders but could come back to smash her at any moment.

Aaron was stunned. That was the last thing he’d been expecting to hear. Well, one of the last things anyway. “You want a transfer?” he repeated, still staring at her. “To another area?”

“Yes,” Ashley said with a firm nod that indicated she’d given this a...