The library was unusually busy that Tuesday. Spring fever had hit our small town, and people were emerging from their winter hibernation, eager for new books, new stories, new possibilities. I spent most of the morning helping Mrs. Chen find recipes for her granddaughter\u2019s wedding reception and assisting a group of college students with research for their senior projects.<\/p>\n
It was during my lunch break that I first noticed something was wrong.<\/p>\n
I was sitting in the staff room, eating a turkey sandwich and scrolling through my phone, when I saw the first message from an unknown number: \u201cYou might want to check your husband\u2019s Instagram.\u201d<\/p>\n
My stomach tightened. Marcus barely used social media. He had accounts, sure, but he rarely posted anything beyond the occasional work achievement or anniversary photo. I opened Instagram, found his profile, and scrolled through his recent posts.<\/p>\n
Nothing seemed unusual at first. A photo of his morning coffee. A sunset from last weekend\u2019s drive. A picture of us at dinner from a few weeks ago. But then I saw it\u2014a post from earlier that morning that I hadn\u2019t noticed before.<\/p>\n
It was a photo of two coffee cups on a restaurant table, steam rising from both. The caption read: \u201cStarting the day right with my inspiration.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared at the image, my sandwich forgotten. We hadn\u2019t had coffee together that morning. I\u2019d been home, he\u2019d been rushing to work. So who had shared that coffee with him?<\/p>\n
My phone buzzed again. Another unknown number: \u201cAsk him about the woman at Caf\u00e9 Luna.\u201d<\/p>\n
My hands were shaking now. I closed Instagram and tried to focus on rational explanations. Maybe it was a work colleague. Maybe the photo was old and he\u2019d just posted it. Maybe someone was playing a cruel joke.<\/p>\n
But deep down, a cold certainty was settling in my chest.<\/p>\n
I couldn\u2019t concentrate for the rest of the day. Every patron who approached my desk seemed to blur together, every book I shelved felt impossibly heavy. When five o\u2019clock finally arrived, I practically ran to my car.<\/p>\n
Marcus\u2019s car wasn\u2019t there yet. I went inside and paced our living room, rehearsing different ways to bring up the mysterious messages, the coffee photo, the growing pit of dread in my stomach. When I heard his key in the lock at quarter past seven, I was sitting on the couch, hands folded, trying to look casual.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, beautiful,\u201d he said, dropping his briefcase by the door. \u201cSorry I\u2019m late. Presentation ran long, then Peterson wanted to grab drinks to celebrate.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow did it go?\u201d I asked, my voice sounding strange even to my own ears.<\/p>\n
\u201cFantastic. We got the account.\u201d He loosened his tie and headed toward the kitchen. \u201cI\u2019m starving. Should we order that Thai food?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMarcus,\u201d I said, not moving from the couch. \u201cWe need to talk.\u201d<\/p>\n
Something in my tone made him stop. He turned slowly, his expression shifting from casual exhaustion to wariness.<\/p>\n
\u201cAbout what?\u201d<\/p>\n
I pulled out my phone and showed him the screenshot I\u2019d taken of his Instagram post. \u201cAbout this.\u201d<\/p>\n
He looked at the image, and I watched his face carefully. There was a flicker of something\u2014guilt? fear?\u2014before his expression smoothed into confusion.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat about it? It\u2019s just coffee.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere was I when you took this photo?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you mean? I probably took it this morning before work.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMarcus, we didn\u2019t have coffee together this morning. You left the house at seven-thirty. I was still in my pajamas.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The library was unusually busy that Tuesday. Spring fever had hit our small town, and people were emerging from their winter hibernation, eager for new books, new stories, new possibilities. I spent most of the morning helping Mrs. Chen find recipes for her granddaughter\u2019s wedding reception and assisting a group of college students with research…<\/p>\n