CLAIRE

Julian came home earlier than usual that evening. I heard his keys in the door around six thirty. I was in the kitchen making tea, still in the clothes I'd worn to see Richard.

I hadn't been able to change yet, hadn't been able to do much of anything since I got back, just moved around the apartment slowly, doing small things that didn't require thinking.

Julian came straight to the kitchen when he found me, he didn't say anything immediately, he just looked at my face and opened his arms.

I walked into them without hesitation and we stood like that for a while, his chin resting on...