I Did Not Move Aside

“Bring him back,” I demanded. “Where is he supposed to go?”

“He’ll figure it out,” Richard said, pouring himself more coffee. “That’s the point.”

Chapter 4 — A Year of Silence

For the first week I called Elliot every day.

In the second week I told myself he needed space, and kept calling anyway.

He never answered. I left messages asking only whether he was safe and eating.