The date circled in red was today.
Mara woke up before the alarm. She looked at the calendar on the wall. The red circle was still there, bold and clear. She stood up, walked to the kitchen, and turned on the light. The room filled with the same familiar brightness.
She opened the cabinet and took out plates. She set one plate on the table, then another. She pulled out a bowl and filled it with fruit. She placed it on the table as well. She took a loaf of bread from the shelf and put it beside the plates. She did not move the calendar. She did not erase the date.
She called out, "Eli."
No answer.
She walked down the hallway and opened his door.
Eli was still in bed. The blanket was pulled up to his chest. The room was neat. The clothes were folded on the chair. The backpack was by the door.
Eli sat up slowly.
He looked toward the door.
He did not look at Mara.
"What do you want?" he asked.
Mara stepped closer.
"It's my birthday," she said.
Eli looked down at the floor.
"Don't say that," he said.
Mara's voice stayed the same.
"I'm asking you to come out," she said.
Eli stood up.
He walked to the door.
He opened it.
He looked at her.
"I'm not going out," he said.
Mara's voice stayed the same.
"You have to come," she said.
Eli shook his head.
"I want a nanny," he said. "Call a nanny."
Mara paused.
"A nanny?" she repeated.
Eli nodded.
"I don't want you there," he said. "I want someone else."
Mara looked at the hallway.
She turned and walked to the living room.
She picked up her phone.
She dialed a number.
She spoke briefly.
She hung up.
"Someone will be here soon," she said.
Eli did not respond.
He closed his door.
Mara returned to the kitchen. She checked the plates on the table. She moved the fruit bowl slightly to the left. She adjusted the bread.
She looked at the calendar again.
She did not move it.
She did not erase it.
She waited.
The doorbell rang.
Mara walked to the door and opened it.
A woman stood there with a bag in her hand. She wore a uniform. Her shoes were clean. Her hair was tied back.
"Hello," the woman said. "I'm the nanny."
Mara nodded.
"Thank you," she said.
The nanny stepped inside.
She looked around the living room. She glanced at the table. She saw the plates.
She turned to Mara.
"Is he ready?" she asked.
Mara nodded.
"He's in his room," she said.
The nanny walked toward the hallway.
She knocked on Eli's door.
"Eli," she said. "It's time."
Eli opened the door.
He stood in the doorway.
He looked at the nanny.
The nanny smiled.
"Hi, Eli," she said. "I'm here to help."
Eli did not move.
The nanny waited.
Eli turned and walked back into his room.
He closed the door.
The nanny stood in the hallway for a moment.
She turned and walked back to the living room.
Mara followed.
"Do you need anything?" she asked.
The nanny shook her head.
"I'm fine," she said.
Mara nodded.
"Thank you," she said.
The nanny left.
Mara locked the door behind her.
She returned to the kitchen.
She sat at the table.
She did not move.
She did not speak.
One minute later, Eli's door opened.
He stepped into the hallway.
He held a piece of paper in his hand.
He walked to the kitchen.
He placed the paper on top of the freezer.
He did not look at Mara.
He walked past her.
He walked toward the door.
He stopped.
He looked at the calendar on the wall.
He looked at the red circle.
He walked out of the apartment.
He closed the door behind him.
He did not return.
Mara stayed at the table.
She did not move.
She did not speak.
She waited.
Minutes passed.
She stood up.
She walked to the freezer.
She saw the paper on top.
She picked it up.
She opened it.
The note read:
Mom,
I'm leaving.
I want you to be happy.
I can't make you happy here.
I will live somewhere else.
I'm sorry.
Eli.
Mara dropped the paper.
She stood still.
She did not move.
She did not speak.
She looked at the calendar.
The red circle stayed.
She walked to the living room.
She picked up her phone.
She dialed a number.
She spoke briefly.
She hung up.
She sat back down at the table.
She did not move.
She did not speak.
She waited.
The afternoon passed.
The door remained closed.
The hallway remained empty.
The apartment remained quiet.
Mara stood and walked to the window.
She looked outside.
She saw people walking on the street.
She saw cars passing by.
She saw the sky.
She saw the trees.
She saw the same view she saw every day.
She did not move.
She did not speak.
She returned to the kitchen.
She picked up the note again.
She read it once more.
She folded it.
She placed it in her pocket.
She returned to the table.
She sat down.
She did not move.
She did not speak.
That evening, the doorbell rang again.
Mara stood up and walked to the door.
She opened it.
No one was there.
She looked down.
There was a small bag on the doorstep.
She picked it up.
She carried it inside.
She placed it on the table.
She opened the bag.
Inside was a small cake.
It was plain.
It had no candles.
It had no writing.
She placed the cake on the table.
She stood there for a moment.
She did not move.
She did not speak.
She turned and walked back to the window.
She looked outside again.
She returned to the table.
She sat down.
She did not move.
She did not speak.
The night passed.
The apartment stayed quiet.
The calendar stayed the same.
The red circle remained.
The broken vase remained in the trash.
The note remained in Mara's pocket.
The door remained closed.
The clock continued ticking.