“The House He Hid”

That night, I couldn’t sleep.

The house creaked softly around me, every sound amplified by the storm still raging outside. My thoughts spiraled, circling the same questions over and over.

Why didn’t he tell me?

And who was Deborah to him?

Around 2 a.m., I gave up on sleep and wandered downstairs. A faint light glowed from the living room. I hesitated, then moved closer, careful not to make a sound.