I went without Lily.

Two officers accompanied me through the front door, and the air inside smelled stale after weeks without anyone living there.

The kitchen calendar still displayed our old plans.

Mark’s trip to Chicago was circled in blue ink.

Beside it Lily had drawn a tiny airplane with three windows.

On the refrigerator was a note reminding me to buy strawberries for her lunch.

I stood in that kitchen for a long time.