The Key in Her Palm

Claire stands by the bedroom window, the cage key in her fist and the photo of Willow face-up on the dresser, David's 'Counting' still lit on the phone screen. She turns to Warren, still in his slacks and button-down, the belt hidden under his shirt, and says, 'He thinks he owns you. Show me what you think.' She holds the key out, not giving it—waiting for him to reach for it, while the other key sits in David's pocket across the city. The belt presses against Warren's ribs as he steps toward her, and the room holds the weight of which key he'll take.