At eleven that night, after the house finally went quiet, I went out to the garage in my slippers.
It was cold. The concrete floor bit through the soles.
Leif’s chair was in the far corner, under a blue plastic tarp. It was jammed between the lawn mower and his old workbench, where his tools still hung on the pegboard in their outlines.
I pulled the tarp back.
The leather on the left arm had split right along the seam. They must have banged it against my doorframe on the way out.
The left arm. The one where he always set his coffee.
I stood there and looked at that split for a long time.
Then I put my hand into the little pocket on the side of the chair. The one where he used to keep the TV Guide, back when there was a TV Guide.
His reading glasses were still in there.
Folded, the way he’d left them. One lens still smudged with his thumbprint.
I sat down in his chair in my cold garage. I stayed there about twenty minutes.
I didn’t cry.
I just sat in the only place in my house that still smelled like him.
The next morning, Thursday, September 25th, I walked into my kitchen and found Norine reorganizing my spice cabinet.
Alphabetically.
Allspice. Basil. Bay leaves. Cardamom.
My coffee canister had been moved to a lower shelf. I had to bend down to reach it.
“You don’t mind?” Norine said, without turning around.
It wasn’t a question.
I poured my coffee and stood by the window and drank it.
She watched me for a minute. Then she said something she clearly thought was harmless. Almost friendly.
“Darcy looked it up, you know. After thirty days, it’s my home too.”
I didn’t say anything. I counted it in my head while my coffee cooled.
The piano came in on Tuesday, September 16th. Darcy, I learned later, was counting from the piano.
Thirty days from that was Thursday, October 16th.
They hadn’t just moved a piano into my house.
They’d started a clock.
Ethan Blake is a skilled Creative Content Specialist with a talent for crafting engaging and thought-provoking narratives. With a strong background in storytelling and digital content creation, Ethan brings a unique perspective to his role at TheArchivists, where he curates and produces captivating content for a global audience.
Ethan holds a degree in Communications from Zurich University, where he developed his expertise in storytelling, media strategy, and audience engagement. Known for his ability to blend creativity with analytical precision, he excels at creating content that not only entertains but also connects deeply with readers.
At TheArchivists, Ethan specializes in uncovering compelling stories that reflect a wide range of human experiences. His work is celebrated for its authenticity, creativity, and ability to spark meaningful conversations, earning him recognition among peers and readers alike.
Passionate about the art of storytelling, Ethan enjoys exploring themes of culture, history, and personal growth, aiming to inspire and inform with every piece he creates. Dedicated to making a lasting impact, Ethan continues to push boundaries in the ever-evolving world of digital content.