The Art of Deflection

DAMIAN

"Valerie!"

She was now singing.

I paced the bedroom with the black dress in my hand and called her name until my throat was raw and she just kept singing behind that bathroom door like I was background noise. Like I was furniture. Like I was nothing.

"Valerie!"

The shower cut off.

I stopped pacing. I stood in the center of the room and I waited. I told myself to stay calm and I