Chapter 3

The next morning, the pain in my stomach woke me.

A light rain fell outside. The sea was gray and hazy.

The lights were off, and my phone had only thirty percent battery left.

I crawled to the kitchen and pulled open the refrigerator door.

A nasty, sour smell hit me.

Yesterday's leftover chicken pasta was still inside, its surface dried into a crust.

The milk wasn't cold anymore. A sour smell came from the opening of the carton.

I covered my nose, gagged, and fell back onto the floor.

I didn't know what was still safe to eat.

Evan used to sort through the food for me.

But he wasn't there.

There were no crackers in the cupboard and no bread on the table.

I found a bag of candy, tore it open, and put a piece in my mouth.

It melted quickly, but my stomach was still empty.

I called Evan.

He answered right away.

"Nora, why are you calling so early?"

I could hear the sea breeze and the baby laughing.

In the distance, a man said quietly, "Don, the captain says we can leave whenever you're ready."

"Wait a minute," Evan said.

I quickly spoke up.

"Evan, the food's gone bad."

"Did you grab the wrong container?"

"No. It smells bad."

"Isn't the refrigerator working fine?"

"It's not cold inside anymore."

He was silent for a moment.

"Are you trying to make me come back again?"

"I'm hungry."

Vivian took the phone.

"Nora, you're being incredibly selfish."

I froze.

"How am I being selfish?"

"The three of us hardly ever get a few days away as a family, and you call morning, noon, and night. Will you only be happy when you've dragged Evan home?"

"You're not a family of three."

The words surprised even me.

The other end went silent except for Vivian's breathing, which had grown heavier.

"Nora."

Evan said my name.

For the first time, I didn't apologize right away.

"I'm your wife."

I touched the ring on my finger.

"You told me so."

Vivian spoke softly.

"But you can't even take care of yourself now."

"I can."

"Then why can't you even heat up your own pasta?"

I opened my mouth.

Nothing came out.

Evan finally spoke.

"Vivian, enough."

Then he said to me,

"Find something else to eat. Stop calling."

"There isn't anything."

"Then have some water."

"There's no water, either."

"How could there be no water?"

"Nothing comes out of the faucet."

I heard a chair scrape on the other end.

"Try the faucet at the far end of the kitchen."

Evan's voice had tightened a little.

"I did."

"Try again."

I turned on the faucet and held my hand under it.

"There's no water."

Beside him, Vivian said,

"Everything was fine yesterday. How does it all break the moment we leave?"

"There really isn't any."

"Evan, she knows you'll come home if she says she has nothing to eat or drink."

I pressed the phone against my ear.

"I'm not lying."

I looked at the man guarding the iron gate.

"Can I ask the men outside to bring me water?"

Evan's voice hardened.

"Are you trying to sneak out again?"

"No!"

"Nora."

"There has to be water in the house. You can't run to someone every time something happens. What would you do if I weren't around?"

My fingers slowly loosened.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm just trying to teach you to be a little more independent. Besides, everything you need is in the house."

"Don't you want me anymore?"

Vivian said softly,

"See? There it is again. She says that every time you try to leave."

Evan was quiet for a moment.

"Don't call again, Nora."

"But I'm hungry."

"Wait until we get back."

"When?"

"Two more days."

On the other end, the baby laughed and said,

"Daddy."

Then the call ended.

I sat quietly beside the cupboard.

By noon, I was so thirsty I couldn't stand it. Then I remembered there was still water in the toilet.

I took a spoon and drank it, one spoonful at a time.

I suddenly remembered how Evan had taught me who everyone was, day after day.

"This is me, your husband."

"This is Vivian, your sister."

"This is your home. You're safe here."

I remembered all of that.

The only thing I couldn't remember was why he always left when I was most afraid.

My stomach hurt more and more.

I braced myself against the wall and tried to reach my phone on the table.

Two steps later, my legs gave out.

I fell to the floor and hit my head against the wall. For a brief moment, my mind cleared.

Through the haze, I remembered being trapped in the crushed car, my chest hurting so badly I couldn't breathe, forced to watch Evan drag my sister away.

I shook my head, but it was all gone again.

My watch struck the tile, and the screen lit up.

Evan's picture was on it.

I pressed the call button.

No answer.

I pressed it again.

Still no answer.

I curled up against the wall, holding my stomach, trying to tell myself,

"Evan will come back."

"He'll be back tomorrow."