That evening, a neighbor named Helen knocked on her door with cornbread. “I heard you arrived today. Around here, nobody eats dinner alone on their first day.”

Margaret tried to say she was fine, that it wasn’t necessary. But Helen was already walking in with two plates.

For an hour, they talked about plants, old TV dramas, and aching knees. Margaret laughed for the first time in weeks.

Her phone began vibrating Monday night. First Daniel. Then Rebecca. Then eighteen missed calls.

Margaret did not answer.

She opened the security camera app instead. Daniel had added her years before so she could let delivery drivers in. He had never removed her access.