what we say + when + why
the card on each of the packages has one word — when read, in any order, they make sense.
Shimmering Blanket of Diamonds
Like A Blue Thread
she looks up at him, wearing all three gifts. “because i am attached?”
He stares back.
“you can do this because it’s safe.”
“Is that a question?”
“you tell me.” she takes off the hat and lays it on the bed.
“I have never asked anything of you. I still don’t, but take as you give. Please don’t do this.”
“please don’t do what?”
It takes him a second to let it go and let her be.
his muse, sitting there
with her arms alongside her body, resolved to draw from him answers he can’t give. “The circumstances of your life have nothing to do with me. Your marriage—”
“Stop!” She covers her ears and buries her face between her knees.
Adrián takes clothes from the chair next to the bed and goes downstairs. She barely feels the front door close, he does it so softly, then the heavy porch door; hears his footsteps in the quiet of morning, the car humming away. Her mobile, plugged in next to the bed, rings. “Hi.” Her voice is scarcely a whisper.
“What’s the matter, darling?” It’s Elaine. She shouldn’t have answered it, but she expected it to be him. Didn’t bother to look at it. Sara covers her mouth and prays she can stop herself from crying. “Sara? Hello? Are you there?”
