I Was Lifting Our Heavy Mattress to Search for an Earring I Had Dropped Behind the Bedframe – I Expected to Find Some Dust, but What Was Carefully Taped Beneath His Side of the Mattress Made Me Slowly Sit Down on the Uncovered Floor
“If Clarissa and Ethan ever split, I’m done believing in love.”
I laughed every time. I believed her, too, because we’d built a beautiful, comfortable life together. He was my rock and my confidant.
I believed her, too.
***
That evening, we were getting ready for one of Marion’s formal dinner parties at her house. She hosted twice a year, and the invitations were the kind you didn’t miss.
I was standing at the vanity, fastening my second gold earring, when Ethan called up the stairs.
“You almost ready, Clar? I’m going to pull the car out!”
She hosted twice a year.
“Two minutes,” I called back.
“That’s what you said 10 minutes ago!”
“That’s because I meant it 10 minutes ago!”
I heard him laugh, then the click of the front door.
I turned back to the mirror. My favorite earring slipped out of my fingers.
