“Thanks for meeting me here,” she said as she handed the bartender a twenty in exchange for a tray full of shots. I just nodded at her back as she led me to a table in the corner of the room. All around us were women in various stages of undress. She set the tray…

The hot flashes came on like a cyclone, crashing into her over and over until she was dripping sweat and steam rose from her skin. She tossed and turned every night, trying to find sleep amongst the oppressive, inescapable heat. Her mother, her friends, her co-workers had all endured this indignity with as much grace…