My Husband Texted Me “I’m Stuck At Work.

Maybe it was mercy leaving the room.

Or maybe it was the strange calm that comes when a woman finally stops begging reality to be softer than it is.

I walked toward Andrew’s table.

His smile froze when he saw me.

The woman across from him turned, her face draining of color as Daniel stepped into view behind me.

I placed the gift bag on the table in front of Andrew.

Inside was the vintage silver watch I had bought for our anniversary.

The watch I had imagined him wearing for years.

He opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Then he saw the investigators approaching.

I looked him directly in the eye and said, calmly, “Happy anniversary.”