My Wife Was Seven Months Pregnant When She Stopped Leaving Bed—Then I Lifted the Blue Blanket and Realized My Mother Already Knew What Was Underneath

And usually one ridiculous yellow sticky note.

Rest, my love.

Or:

Our daughter says no heavy lifting.

Once:

You are legally prohibited from cleaning today. Signed, Management.

Clara used to laugh at them.

She used to laugh at almost everything.

That was one of the first things I loved about her.

She hummed old rock songs while washing dishes.

She danced badly while waiting for pasta water to boil.

She complained every single morning about my work boots being beside the front door, then moved them exactly six inches to the left as though that solved something.

Then, gradually, the apartment became quieter.

Clara stopped humming.