At six-fifteen, I heard his truck in the driveway.
I heard his footsteps on the porch. His key in the lock. The door opening. His keys hitting the kitchen counter.
“Sutton?”
“I’m in the living room.”
He came around the corner and stopped in the doorway.
I could see him. Not well. His face was still a soft blur. But I could make out the shape of it. His dark hair. The navy work jacket he always wore. The way he stood with his weight on his left leg because of his bad knee.
Then he saw the suitcase.
He stopped moving completely. Like somebody had pressed pause on him.
“Where did you find that?” he said.
“Under our bed.”
His shoulders went stiff. I could see that, even blurry.
I picked up the manila envelope from the coffee table. The one with my name on it. And I held it up.
“Ashton,” I said. “Is there something you need to tell me?”
He didn’t say anything for a long moment.
Then he walked slowly across the room and sat down on the couch across from me. Right on the edge of the cushion. Like he might need to get up and run.
“Sutton…”
“Please,” I said. “Please don’t lie to me. I can’t take one more night of not knowing.”
He rubbed his hands together. Back and forth. Back and forth. He does that when he’s nervous. He did it the whole time he was proposing to me.
“How much have you read?” he asked quietly.
“Enough to know you’ve been thinking about divorcing me.”
My husband lowered his head.
For several seconds, neither one of us said a word. I could hear the clock on the mantel ticking. The one his grandmother gave us for our wedding.
Then he whispered one word.
“Yes.”
Lila Hart is a dedicated Digital Archivist and Research Specialist with a keen eye for preserving and curating meaningful content. At TheArchivists, she specializes in organizing and managing digital archives, ensuring that valuable stories and historical moments are accessible for generations to come.
Lila earned her degree in History and Archival Studies from the University of Edinburgh, where she cultivated her passion for documenting the past and preserving cultural heritage. Her expertise lies in combining traditional archival techniques with modern digital tools, allowing her to create comprehensive and engaging collections that resonate with audiences worldwide.
At TheArchivists, Lila is known for her meticulous attention to detail and her ability to uncover hidden gems within extensive archives. Her work is praised for its depth, authenticity, and contribution to the preservation of knowledge in the digital age.
Driven by a commitment to preserving stories that matter, Lila is passionate about exploring the intersection of history and technology. Her goal is to ensure that every piece of content she handles reflects the richness of human experiences and remains a source of inspiration for years to come.