Around 11 a.m. that day, Clara came home after four months away on a work trip.
She didn’t call ahead—she wanted to surprise her husband and son. In her bag were vegetables, some meat, and their favorite foods. She imagined cooking a warm meal for them, just like she used to.
But as she climbed the stairs, something felt wrong. The building was too quiet. No music, no TV, no voices.
She knocked once. Then again, harder.
No answer.
Clara frowned.
“These two…”
She knocked again—still nothing.
After waiting a moment, she searched her bag for the spare key. It took her a while to find it. When she finally unlocked the door and stepped inside, the first thing she noticed was how clean everything was. Too clean. Not the messy home she expected after being gone for months.
She set the groceries down gently.
Then she saw them.
A pair of women’s shoes near the wall.
Not hers.
She knew immediately.
For a split second, she tried to explain it away. Maybe a gift? A surprise?
But the thought didn’t hold.
Her heartbeat quickened.
