A man returns home after two years abroad — but upon witnessing how his wife treats their daughter, he takes a shocking action that changes everything

and he could not guarantee anything about circumstances that he could not fully predict.

He thought about what she was actually asking, which was not about the future and its contingencies. She was asking about intent. About whether his presence was provisional or foundational.

“I’m not going to leave you,” he said. “That’s different from being able continue reading …