I did not drink it.

I raised it to my lips and only pretended, and when no one was watching I set it down untouched.

And at seven o’clock, I put my hand to my forehead and said I felt lightheaded, and let Christopher walk me, one more time, to that guest room, and lay me on that bed.

“Rest, my love,” he said.

“I’ll check on you later.” And a moment after he left, I heard a sound I had never heard before in that house: the sound of a key turning in the lock, from the outside.

I was awake, and clear-headed, and locked in.