The Empty Chair

DAPHNE

MOMENTS LATER

Dinner was ready, but he wasn’t there.

The table was set, everything in place, the napkins folded, the food still warm and smelling good. I had taken my time with it, hoping maybe it would make things feel normal again. I even placed his glass right where he liked it, filled with the juice he usually asked for.

I sat down slowly, trying to keep myself together. The chair acros