Chapter 3

March 19th. My birthday. For once, David got off work early.

He was home by 6:30, carrying a shopping bag.

"Happy birthday." He handed it to me.

I opened it.

A scarf. Beige. It didn't feel like silk, more like some synthetic blend. I looked it over and couldn't find a brand tag.

"I saw it downstairs from the office," David said. "Thought the color would look good on you."

"Thanks," I said.

I folded the scarf and put it in the closet, right next to the only other half-decent gift he'd ever bought me, a handbag from ShopEase that…