I had to lower the shield so you could see the weapon in her hand.”

He turned a little and looked at the empty chair next to me.

The canvas grocery tote sat on the wooden porch chair in the evening light.

I’d emptied it earlier, taking out the thick plastic waterproof sleeve and letting the bag settle back into its usual shape.

“Look, I don’t know how to start over,” Ethan said.

“I planned my whole future around her.”

“You’re twenty-eight,” I said.