5
305words
Ethan,his assistant,tried to ask what was wrong but was shoved aside.
Nathan stumbled into the elevator,muttering,“No way…no way.”
“Claire,you liar.Always pulling these stunts.”
He fumbled his car keys,dropping them,nearly falling.
Ethan caught up,steadying him.“Nathan,what’s going on?”
Nathan pushed him off,grabbed the keys,and sped through red lights to get home.
He couldn’t recall the last time he’d been there.
Over a month had drained the house of life.
Everything was unchanged,including the divorce papers with my signature.
He stared at them,then tore them apart like the letter.
He left again,heading to my mom’s place.
My heart—whatever was left—tensed.
How would Mom react to my death?
Nathan pounded on her door like a madman.
She opened it,startled.“Nathan,what’s wrong?Come in.”
“Mom,has Claire been here lately?”
“Lately?No,but she came by a month ago.”
“Did something happen?”
Her face showed a flicker of worry.
“A month ago?What did she say?”
“She said…she couldn’t have kids.”
“Mom,I can’t find her.Can you help me with that?”
His voice shook.
“Okay,I’ll call her now.”
“She’s always causing trouble.I told her not to fight with you…”
“Calling won’t work.Her number’s disconnected.”
“She hasn’t contacted you at all?Is she hiding here?”
He pushed past her, frantically calling my name.
Mom stopped him,alarmed.“Nathan,she’s not here.”
“Tell me,what happened?I told her to leave you early,but she wouldn’t listen.Now look at this mess!”
Nathan froze,incredulous.“You told her to leave me?She’s gone,Mom!I can’t find her!”
“Claire’s missing!”
Mom turned pale, looking stunned.
Before she could respond,Nathan ran out.
She stood frozen,then dialed my number.
The disconnected tone hit her,a bad feeling rising.
I followed Nathan as he raced home,tearing through the bedroom.
In the nightstand,he found my empty pill bottles.
Some clarity returned.He searched the drugs online.
After reading what was on the screen, he collapsed.
Hours passed.Darkness fell.
His phone,on the floor,lit up,buzzing.
