When the door shut, I considered checking out.

The room was perfectly pleasant, with botanical prints and a writing desk, but pleasant things can make loneliness worse if you have paid to enjoy them with someone.

I took my green wool dress from the closet instead.

I had bought it three years earlier for an anniversary dinner that never happened.

It still fitted.

I smoothed the skirt across the duvet and put the silver earrings beside it.

At six, the Cozy Corner Bistro smelled of roasted garlic and melted butter.