I Was Lifting Our Heavy Mattress to Search for an Earring I Had Dropped Behind the Bedframe – I Expected to Find Some Dust, but What Was Carefully Taped Beneath His Side of the Mattress Made Me Slowly Sit Down on the Uncovered Floor

hand trailing along the banister, the other clutching a purse that felt as if it weighed 20 pounds.

My reflection nodded once.

***

Ethan was leaning against the car in his charcoal suit, the one I’d picked out for him last Christmas. He smiled when he saw me, that same easy smile that had made me say yes to a second date, a fifth date, a life.

“You look continue reading …