She didn’t know when the colors had been chosen, leaving her with black.

*Pawn from e4 to e5*

Maybe it had been way back when they’d played on a real board at the Centre instead of the invisible one spread over the globe. That difference aside, the game hadn’t changed. One move after the other, a step towards him…

*Knight retreat from f6 to e8*

… only to have him evade…

*Knight c3 to e4*

… leaving them empty-handed…

*Pawn g3 to g4*

… and him time for a counter-move.

*Queen from f4 to g4, taking over the pawn*

Both sacrificing pawns, playing what started as a game when they were kids and became anything but.

*Bishop from f1 to f3*

A game of strategy now their lives; act - react, plan – observe. Their goal the same:

*Queen from g4 to g8*

Checkmate