THE SLOW WORK
Adrian spent three days alone. He didn't call Nina. He didn't answer Vanessa's texts. He didn't check on Derek. He stayed in the house — his house now, he supposed — and moved from room to room like a ghost. He thought about trust. About how easily it had been broken. About how hard it would be to rebuild. He thought about Nina. About her hands, her voice, the way she had said I love you like it was the only truth she had left. He thought about Vanessa. About the years of silence, the slow death of their marriage, the way they had both stopped trying. He thought about Derek. About the betrayal he hadn't confronted, the brother who had looked him in the eye and lied. On the fourth day, he picked up his phone. He called Derek. --- Derek answered on the third ring. His voice was hoar
- Writer
