M. Gessen

I texted her that I knew only Lena and Alan's side of the story.

Priscilla wrote back right away.

She was stuck in Russia.

Her daughter, whom I'll call Elle, had been born via surrogacy because Priscilla was unable to carry a pregnancy to term.

The baby was eight months old, but Priscilla still didn't have a birth certificate for her, which meant that they couldn't leave the country.

We traded short messages back and forth.

Our exchange was friendly, but guarded.

I didn't want to overstep, and I think Priscilla tried to say only what needed to be said.

It was enough for me to sense that she was in anguish, and I was horrified.

How could this woman's child just be taken away from her?

How could my family just sit by?

And what was going to happen to O now?

Priscilla told me that the Russian police would not help her.

The Zimbabwean embassy said that she could file a petition under the Hague Convention, a treaty that specifically addresses situations when one parent abducts a child and takes them to another country.

But Priscilla needed legal help in the U.S.

I could be useful here.

I called a friend who connected Priscilla with a person in the Justice Department who specializes in these kinds of cases.

Priscilla also needed Lena Allen and O's physical address in the States so she could begin the Hague process.

This I could definitely help with.

I knew that they'd left Cape Cod for New York, which is where I live.