The Empty Seat

The townhouse sat in heavy silence as Dominic pushed the front door open. He stepped into the dark entryway with Lydia cradled against his chest, her head resting weakly on his shoulder. At two in the morning, the only sound was the rhythmic puff of her alcohol-laced breath against his neck. He adjusted his grip and stepped lightly on the hardwood floorboards, terrified of making a single careless