Chapter 22

I’d left quietly, early the next morning, with all the documents in hand. Back into the city, I stopped at a diner for breakfast before continuing the ride. It was weird, coming home in broad daylight. I hadn’t done that in forever.

The walls seemed lonelier than ever. I wasn’t sure if I was hallucinating or grieving, but it looked like the paintings were melting off the walls, looking for an escape from the unbearable emptiness of the air. I didn’t understand why it felt like that. I was home, there was furniture, there was food. Did I need a smaller place?

Maybe I needed a smaller place.

Holly came bounding towards me in excitement and I opened my arms for her to jump into. Holding her tight as she licked me, I realized I hadn’t taken her on a walk myself in ages. I grabbed my phone and called her dogwalker to tell her to take the day off.

“Let’s go for a walk after breakfast, yeah?” I whispered to her, “I can’t take it being cooped up in here anymore.”

I changed into my athletic ge