That night, even shrouded in the darkness of the kitchen, he heated up the food. He sat on the cold countertop and ate slowly, in silence. Each bite was a mixture of flavors, affection and absence, presence and distance. The food was delicious, as always. Prepared by a devoted wife he barely knew and completely ignored.

When he finished, he washed the dishes, dried his hands, and looked toward the hallway again. The light was still coming from somewhere, faint, but enough to tell that someone w