There was no pot on the stove, and Sanja's sweater was not hanging over the chair. Vedran came home at nine, certain he would hear the usual complaint about being late. Instead, he was greeted by the hum of the refrigerator. He called her. Her phone was unavailable.

At first, he was angry. He disliked unclear plans, although he rarely announced his own arrival. Then he noticed that her weekend bag was missing too. An empty envelope lay on the kitchen table. The night before, Sanja had said she no longer wanted to talk to a man who only called to explain why he would not be coming home again.

He sat down without taking off his coat. He remembered how they used to dance in that kitchen while pasta boiled. In recent months, he had come home full from business dinners and asked what there was to eat. Sanja left a plate in the refrigerator. He had taken that as proof that, despite her words, things were mostly fine.

He opened a notebook and began writing. He promised to finish early on Fridays, to stop arranging weekends without her, and to stop using work as the answer to every question. He wrote quickly, almost angrily. Only after filling a page did he notice how many specific things he knew, after months of claiming he did not understand what she wanted.

The door opened before midnight. Sanja came in with wet hair and her bag. Her sister had fallen ill, so she had gone to stay with her until her brother-in-law returned. She had left a message, but on the other side of the envelope. Her phone battery had died. Vedran felt such relief that he immediately began saying he had worried for nothing.

When a friend called about a Saturday outing, he almost automatically said he would come. Meanwhile, Sanja had read the open notebook. She did not shout. She simply turned the page toward him while he was still holding the phone.

Vedran stopped. He told his friend he would call the next day. Sanja sat opposite him and asked whether he truly wanted any of what he had written or simply wanted never to feel frightened again.

He could not think of an answer that would sound good. He said he did not know how to change all at once. They agreed on one Friday and one conversation without phones, and then they would see. The following Friday, he came home on time. Dinner was not waiting for him. Sanja was ready, shoes on and keys in hand. She had reserved a table for two.