A Woman’s Husband Forgot His Medication, so She Decided to Drop It off at His Office – But the Receptionist Looked Confused and Said, ‘Ma’am, Your Husband’s Been on Leave for a Week’

covered in cartoon dinosaurs.

Whatever theory I’d constructed about another woman died instantly.

A stranger question replaced it.

Why had Eliam taken a week off work to secretly meet our former neighbor?

I HADN’T SEEN HIM SINCE THE FUNERAL.

***

They sat at an outdoor table.

Eliam opened his laptop.

Frank removed a stack of cards from a folder.

I couldn’t hear them.

I could see Frank point at something.

I COULDN’T HEAR THEM.

Eliam shook his head.

Frank tried again.

Then again.

He seemed irritated.

Eliam didn’t take the card from him.

He simply waited.

HE SEEMED IRRITATED.

Frank eventually tapped one spot and said something.

Eliam smiled.

Frank rolled his eyes.

They went back inside.

I waited several minutes before crossing the street.

FRANK EVENTUALLY TAPPED ONE SPOT AND SAID SOMETHING.

The sign near the entrance read:

ADULT LEARNING CENTER

Underneath:

READING • WRITING • DIGITAL SKILLS

I stood there with