Every Evening, My Husband Tipped Two Drops From a Small Dark Glass Bottle Into My Tea

“It’ll help settle your nerves so you can sleep tonight.”

I picked up the heavy cup and raised it to my face, letting the warm steam touch my chin.

The dark tea leaves swirled at the bottom of my mug like cloud shadows over an empty field.

I kept my knees pressed together under the edge of the granite counter.

I touched the rim to my lip and let a drop touch my tongue without swallowing.

“Did you go through my old green file box in the study this morning?” I asked, setting the mug down.