I thought I’d surprise her. Wear the outfit I married her in. It was our one-month anniversary. I changed in the break room and took off work early. Picked up some flowers to go with the necklace. The afternoon sun pouring down, unlike the rain that drummed the church roof on our wedding day.

I slipped into the apartment cat quiet. For the first time it occurred to me: what if she wasn’t home? But why wouldn’t she be? I thought about calling out, but instead I set the flowers on the coffee table and went to the bedroom door. Inched it open.