There was also laundry.

The house felt altered by their presence.

The space where Marcus’s suitcase had stood was now used for supplies I needed within reach.

The brochure was no longer in the kitchen drawer; it was preserved with the material relevant to the financing dispute.

I did not display it as a reminder.

I wanted the drawer for ordinary things again.

The first night was divided into feeds, settling, checking the written instructions, and brief stretches of rest.

I used the help I had arranged rather than treating doing everything alone as proof of love.