THE EMAIL I SENT BEFORE DESSERT

– gone. Like it had only existed long enough to be placed and retrieved. A message for someone who wasn’t me.

The following Tuesday, I stayed home.

Told Robert I was working remotely. Turned off every light. Sat in the dark bedroom with the door cracked two inches and my phone recording.

At 1:12, the lock clicked.

Footsteps.

Measured. Unhurried. The sound continue reading …