Daria knew every pattern on the bedding in their rental apartment. She sewed pillowcases, welcomed guests, and noted which locks stuck in damp weather. Her husband called the business their extra income. His part was communicating with guests. Hers began when the last guest left a wet towel over the back of a wooden chair.
In November she noticed the apartment had stood empty for three consecutive weekends. Emir said he was changing platforms and waiting for new photographs. Daria went to check the radiators. Inside the wardrobe she found neatly folded women's shirts, a book with underlined passages, and a box of tea Emir disliked. It did not resemble a forgotten travel bag. It looked like somebody's shelf.
While she stood before the wardrobe, a key turned in the lock. A woman her age entered carrying a bag of mandarins. Each first assumed the other had come to clean. The woman's name was Sanja. She said Emir worked late and had let her bring her things early. They were supposed to live together from January. Daria sat on the edge of the bed she had planned to change that morning.
Sanja did not know the marriage was still ongoing. Emir had shown her a photograph of Daria with a colleague, presenting it as proof they had both moved on to other people. Daria knew the picture: it was taken at a colleague's retirement party. She did not defend herself. She opened the shared booking calendar and showed Sanja that a Danish couple had supposedly stayed that weekend.
They called him together from Daria's phone. He tried explaining that things developed at different speeds. Sanja interrupted and asked when he had intended to stop taking her share of the rent. Daria had not expected that information. Emir was charging the woman he had promised a home while telling his wife business was slow. They ended the call without arranging for him to come.
Daria waited while Sanja removed her clothes. They did not embrace. She helped find a bag big enough for the tea and mandarins, which was more useful at that moment. Afterward she photographed the apartment's condition and retrieved all the financial statements. Only once she had orderly documentation did she speak to Emir about ending their joint business and their marriage.
Several months later they sold the apartment by agreement. With her share Daria bought a small sewing shop with one window facing the street. Her first order was curtains for a young couple. They asked whether she could choose the color for them. Daria brought samples, sat opposite, and waited for them to agree. This time her work began only when other people said what they actually wanted.