No request for recognition.
No glance toward her mother asking to be rewarded.
His only concern was the people in the rooms.
Something inside Sophia broke.
Or perhaps finally softened enough to move.
She walked down the corridor.
Richard saw her approaching.
Before he could say anything, Sophia dropped to her knees.
Right there.
On hospital linoleum.
In an expensive coat.
In front of nurses, engineers, executives, and one CFO who immediately developed an intense interest in the opposite wall.
Richard's eyes widened.
"Sophia."
"I'm sorry."
Her voice fractured.
Not elegant.
Not rehearsed.
"I was wrong."
Richard stepped forward.
"Hey."
"I was scared."
"Please get up."
"I accused you of..."
"Sophia."
He reached down carefully.
"Get up."
She stood.
Her eyes were wet.
Richard waited.
"I've been terrified since the accident."
Sophia wiped her face.
"I didn't know where to put it."
She laughed once, bitterly.
"My mother taught me how to be strong."
Her voice shook.
"She didn't mean to teach me how to be alone, too."
Richard looked toward Simone.
Then back at Sophia.
"You were protecting her."
"I protected her from the wrong person."
Richard nodded.
"Yes."
Sophia looked at him.
The honesty almost made her laugh.
"You could have lied."
"I don't think you need that."
She nodded.
"But you came back."
Richard said.
Sophia stared at him.
"What?"
"You were wrong."
He shrugged.
"Then you came back."
He looked toward Simone.
"That's what matters next."
Sophia slowly turned.
Her mother stood by the window.
For a long moment, neither moved.
Sophia walked toward her.
She stopped a few feet away.
Simone's voice was quiet.
"I kept your drawings."
Sophia froze.
"The houses."
Simone smiled through tears.
"The yellow suns."
Sophia's jaw tightened.
"You never told me."
"I know."
"Where?"
"My office."
Simone swallowed.
"Top drawer of the cabinet behind my desk."
She gave a tiny laugh.
"Every one."
Sophia's eyes filled.
"I thought you threw them away."
"I couldn't."
"You stopped putting them on the window."
"I thought they looked unprofessional during investor meetings."
Sophia laughed despite herself.
"Of course you did."
Then she started crying.
Simone stepped forward.
"I was an idiot."
Sophia looked at her.
"Yes."