I Couldn’t Remember Hearing Anyone Come Back Upstairs

I walked to my car after dark.

On Friday night he handed me a small box.

Inside was a new phone charger and a keychain canister of pepper spray.

Orange this time, not silver.

“So you can find it faster,” he said.

I said, “You know I lost only one shoe, right? Not my whole brain.”

He snorted. “Debatable.”

Then he got quiet.

“Nat.”

I looked up.

He was standing continue reading …