What's Missing?

LAYTON

Whenever I spent the night with Marissa, I woke up feeling like a billion bucks. She had that effect on me, making me feel sated and wanted. After everything she heard straight from the horse’s mouth on that video last night, I didn’t think that would be possible for me today.

As it turned out, I was right. I knew before I opened my eyes that my bed was empty. When I rolled over I was met with cold sheets instead of a warm body.

My eyes flew open to confirm what I already felt, and sure enough, she was gone. I sat up, rubbing my eyes before calling out. “Marissa? Where are you, babe?”

Dead silence met my ears. Aside from the near silent hum of the fan, there was no noise in my apartment. No toilet flushing, no shower running, no clanging coming from the kitchen and no soft padding of footsteps from the window.

Dread washed over me. I jumped out of bed, naked as the day I was born, and didn’t bother to put on clothes as I carried out a search of my place. As I suspected, she was