CHAPTER 114

There was no one in bed when I awoke; it felt so lonely without Varya beside me. It crossed my mind that she might have woken up earlier than usual – probably busy doing something mundane around the house.

Still drowsy, I sat up only to realize how oppressive it felt to my breath. The silence filled my surroundings with an uninviting air.

I took a look at the clock—7:00 am—later than normal. She ought to be here with me now. Rubbing my face in manual labor fashion, I shouted out her name but it sounded too loud for an empty room like this one and fell flat from a mouth deprived of hope.

With that, I jumped out of bed and went wandering through our home calling for her again along corridors and rooms of living space. Nothing. The kitchen was empty, the living room untouched.

No sign of her anywhere. A cold realization began to sink in. I returned to the bedroom and checked her closet—half of her clothes were gone.

She had left.

I stared at the empty space where her clothes used to hang