he owned-a simple navy blue cotton dress that was starting to feel a little snug. Th

n-down shirt and dark trousers. He looked less like a groom and mo

their joy a stark contrast to the cold, empty space between Esther and Christopher. While waiting in line, she saw a young

e movement bu

e counter. The clerk, a woman with a bored expressi

an to be your lawfu

r said, her v

oman to be your law

r replied, his voi

to sign. Just as Esther picked

question in his eyes. The cle

from the day before. She unfolded it on the counter. "I want to

unding. "I want it in writing that while the property will remain in your name

ed. It wasn't much, but it was something. A tiny piece of se

eep and complex, and for the first time, she felt truly seen by him

to the bottom of their agreement in neat, precise handwri

seemed to soften slig

e. The document felt heavy in Esther's h

bright and jarring. Esth

the address," he said, along with a slip of

a normal-looking res

The question slipped out

tonight," he said smoothly. "I won

of relief. She wasn't ready to

ped the driver put her suitcase in the trunk. Then he simply

brick apartment building. It was clean but showed its age. She found the

ersonal touches. A plain gray sofa, a cheap-looking coffee table, a small dining set.

lked into the smaller of the two. This would be her

o the empty dresser drawers. She was trying to impose a small piece of hers

oom. The emptiness of the apartment pressed in on her. She wa

ound her middle, her ha

little one," she whis

dow. Christopher did not come home. The apartment re