The Spare Key

Jason found the spare key while packing for a move he didn’t want to make.

It was taped inside a drawer, exactly where she’d left it years ago. Back when leaving

still felt temporary. They hadn’t spoken since the divorce. Not because of anger—because of exhaustion.

Because loving each other had cost too much, too fast. On impulse,

he drove to her house. The porch light was on. It always was.

He stood there for a long time, key cold in his palm, rehearsing apologies

he wasn’t sure he deserved to say. Finally, he knocked. Lara opened the

door slowly, like she was afraid of what memory might be standing there. When she saw him,