Three Years, One Big Lie

s he pulled away. "What is it?" she as

air. "It's just... you just got out of

. He saw a flicker of annoyance in her eyes

ng. "You're always so good to me." She leaned her head o

e living room. It was her space now. Her bags were by the door, her favorite blanket was alr

ade it at one of those paint-your-own-pottery places on their first anniversary. She' d been so proud of it. He' d thought it w

ered her laughing, dabs of blue paint on her nose, as she tried to get the beak just

k in its hiding place, his heart pounding for no reason. Wh

rawers that were still faintly scented with Gladys's perfume. Every mundane object was a landmine of memory. The spe

g story about a multi-car pile-up on the I-15 two nights ago. His attention sharpened wh

like Gla

n the city. But then the camera zoomed in on the shattered rear window. A small, faded sticker was still visible in the c

could

sperate need to get

trained. "I have to run to the hospit

pped in a towel, her hair damp.

d, grabbing his keys. "I'll

to his own house, the one he had shared with Gladys. He didn't know why he was going ther

living room window. A surge of relief so powerful it made

door, fumbling with his key. He pushed th

n the living room, packing a

thought you weren'

hollow as the relief drained away, re

said softly. "She asked me to pack up her things for

m jump. It was an unknown number. He almos

ock Patterson?" a for

Who is

politan Police Department. We're calling regardi

urned to ice.

ion two nights ago. We've been trying to reach her next

compute. Fatal. C

, that's not possible. She's fine. She just left

t firm. "We need you to come down to the coun

numb fingers and clattere

ta

ng around him. It was a mistake. A hor