Sonia came home at midnight.
The dishes on the table had long gone cold. I sat at the dining table without having touched a bite.
She smiled as she changed her shoes, same as always, and walked into the living room.
"Didn't I tell you not to wait up? Why haven't you eaten yet?"
A trace of laughter still lingered at the corners of her eyes.
"The movie tonight was so good. Next time we should go together."
She came over and looped her arm through mine, her tone as breezy as if she'd just popped out for a stroll.
I looked at the flush on her cheeks and suddenly realized that every single time she came home, her face glowed like that, both cheeks tinged pink.
And there was always a faint trace of men's cologne on her.
Back then, I'd chalked it up to a good time with her friend, to the mixed smells of a crowded theater.
Now I finally understood.
That glow and that scent came from a man.
"Sure!" I said.
"How about we go on the first next month?"
Sonia froze. Her eyes narrowed with suspicion as she studied me, then she draped herself over my arm with a pout.
"Honey, we have thirty days in a month. We can go any day. Why does it have to be the first?"