Chapter 1

The sky was a deep, clear blue, broken only by a few drifting white clouds. Along the street, the lavender bushes had begun to bloom in thick clusters of purple, turning the whole road into something almost too bright for the times. Light poured down in a soft wash; a cool breeze moved through the leaves. It was the kind of day that should have drawn people outside. Instead, the streets stayed thin and quiet.

The pandemic had hollowed everything out. No one had the heart left to look at the weather. Those who did appear moved quickly, faces sealed behind masks. Now and then someone stopped and tipped their head back for a moment, staring up at the sky. Whether they were taking in the colour or simply asking the same silent question as everyone else was hard to tell.

*When will this end?*

-----

Henry had just parked and was heading for the elevator when his phone rang.

“Hello?”

“Henry?” A woman’s voice, light and clear. “It’s Elena.”

“Elena. Hi.”

“Are you busy right now?”

“Not at all.”

“Could you pick a few things up for me? I’m isolating at home, so I can’t go out.”

His voice lifted. “Of course. Just text me the list.”

“Thank you. I’m sorry to bother you.”

“It’s no bother.”

He turned around at once, walked back to the car, and pulled out of the underground garage with a small, unexpected lift in his mood.

Elena lived directly across the hall. Henry’s impression of her had always been simple: pretty, and easy to like. Working the front desk at a hotel had probably trained that warmth into her. Her husband, Daniel, was a friend of his - they sometimes went fishing on the weekends - so the neighbourly line between them had always been comfortable.

Comfortable enough that the list she sent included a few personal items, even makeup.

Henry glanced at the message and almost smiled. Isolating at home and still keeping up appearances. Typical.

Still, she was beautiful. Hotel work demanded it. He remembered the times he’d seen her in uniform - the way the fabric followed the lines of her body - and nearly ran a red light thinking about it.

-----

He knocked.

“I’ve got your things.”

“Come in. The door’s open.”

Henry stepped inside, set the bags on the table, and walked toward the bedroom doorway.