Emily got to the laundry room and put the clothes in the washing machine, leaving the underwear. She wanted to wash it with her hand. She felt that his most personal items shouldn't just be tossed into a machine. As she filled a small bucket with warm water and soap, she felt a thrill running through her fingers. Holding his underwear made her feel a strange sense of intimacy, as if she was already part of his private life.

While the machine was working, she was washing the underwear. She took her time, making sure she washed it very well. She scrubbed the fabric gently as her mind wandered back...