I do not know what came over me then.
Maybe it was the shock.
Maybe it was mercy leaving the room.
Or maybe it was the strange calm that comes when a woman finally stops begging reality to be softer than it is.
I walked toward Andrew’s table.
His smile froze when he saw me.
The woman across from him turned, her face draining of color as Daniel stepped into view behind me.
I placed the gift bag on the table in front of Andrew.
Inside was the vintage silver watch I had bought for our anniversary.
The watch I had imagined him wearing for years.
He opened his mouth, but no words came out.
Then he saw the investigators approaching.
I looked him directly in the eye and said, calmly, “Happy anniversary.”