A Sky Full of Absence
On our son's fifth birthday, the three of us went to watch a meteor shower. In the middle of it, my husband answered a phone call and left in a hurry.
Late that night, our son had an asthma attack. The only medicine he needed was in my husband's car.
I clutched my son and ran through the empty wilderness, stumbling in the dark as I called my husband over and over again. All I got back was an icy message: [Something urgent. Do not disturb.]
The next day, he finally called. However, the voice on the other end was not his.
"Last night, my dog suddenly fell ill and died. Elias was worried I wouldn't take it well, so he stayed with me all night. He has just fallen asleep. If you have anything to say, you can tell me."
I stroked my son's pale, bluish face.
"Tell him," I said, "we're getting a divorce."