Nothing Left

It was a quick, quiet meal as the five of them wolfed down their food like it was the first they’d had in a year. Silvia cleaned any incriminatory evidence and commanded the musicians to sleep, threatening them with midnight injections if they stayed awake.

She and Jim left the other three and he took her hand when they walked out, waiting for her to try to let go, say something, do anything. Silvia rested her head on his shoulder as they strolled down the hall to Sean’s room without a word.

Jim stopped at the doorway, surprised to find Jo there. The girl saw them come in and kissed Sean’s cheek.

“Night, love,” she whispered, and let Silvia help her climb down from the bed.

They walked slowly out as Jim circled the bed to sit in the armchair. When Silvia came back, he was sound asleep. She tucked him in with the blanket, brushed his hair with her lips, tiptoed out.

A minute later, she was sitting on the cold floor tile