The Smith Residence

Another nightmare jolted Cecilia awake. Instinctively, her hand reached for Nathaniel’s side of the bed.

Her fingers met empty sheets.

She switched on the lamp and saw that he was gone.

“The bathroom?” she murmured, glancing toward the door. No light.

With him gone, sleep slipped away completely. Unease crept over her skin. She pushed back the covers and stepped into the hallway.

Downstairs, she left the lights off. The darkness swallowed the space.