Eliam’s pill bottle was still beside the coffee maker 10 minutes after he kissed me goodbye and left for work. I drove it to his own office, where the receptionist said he’d been on leave all week. But then he texted that work was crazy, so the next morning I followed him right past his normal turn.
Eliam’s pill bottle was sitting beside the coffee maker.
I noticed it about ten minutes after he left.
It wasn’t unusual for him to forget something in the morning. His keys had spent one memorable Tuesday in the refrigerator because he’d been carrying groceries when his phone rang.
That morning had been ordinary.
Shower.
Coffee.
Tie.
Laptop.
He kissed me goodbye near the front door.
“Have fun,” I said.
“I’d rather reorganize the garage.”
Then he left.
His office was on my way to work, so I grabbed the medication and decided I’d drop it off.
I even stopped for his usual coffee.
***
When I reached his building, I walked to reception with the cup in one hand and his medication in the other.
“Hi. I’m Eliam’s wife. He forgot his medication. Could you let him know I’m downstairs?”
The receptionist looked at me.
I gave his department.
She checked her computer.
Then she looked confused.
“Ma’am, your husband’s been on leave for a week.”
I kept smiling.
At least I think I did.
“Yes. He’s due back Monday.”
“Oh.”
She glanced at the pill bottle.
“Would you like me to leave a message?”
“No, that’s okay. I must’ve mixed up his schedule.”
I thanked her and walked out before my face could do something I couldn’t explain.
I sat in my car with Eliam’s coffee cooling in the cup holder.
What happened next changed everything… FULL STORY on the next page.
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