The rain had been falling on the corrugated roof of the storage unit for three days, a relentless, rhythmic drumming that sounded less like water and more like the static of a television tuned to a dead channel, a white noise that filled the small, airless space where Elias Vane sat cross-legged on a tarp, his back pressed against the cold metal wall, watching the water drip from the rusted ceiling into a bucket that was already half full, the sound a sharp, metallic tick that cut through the heavy, humid air with the precision of a surgeon’s scalpel, dissecting the silence he had tried so hard to build around himself since he left the apartment, since he left the life, since he left the woman who had looked at him with eyes that held no surprise, only a terrifying, flat acceptance that was worse than anger, worse than tears, worse than the screaming that had come before, because the screaming had at least meant she still cared enough to be hurt, but this, this quiet, this stillness, this was the finality of a door closing in a vacuum, and he sat there in the dark, in the damp, in the smell of mildew and old paper and the faint, sweet rot of the orchid he had bought from the market on the corner of Fifth and Main, the orchid that was now dying, its leaves turning yellow at the edges, its roots choking in the plastic pot, a small, fragile thing that mirrored his own state of decay, a thing that had been vibrant and alive just a week ago, now slowly succumbing to the neglect of a man who could not figure out how to keep himself alive, let alone a plant, and he thought about the house, the big, white house with the blue shutters that they had bought with the money from his last novel, the house that was now empty, the house that was now just a collection of rooms and memories and ghosts, the house that he had walked through one last time before he packed his bags, walking on tiptoes as if he were afraid of waking up the dead, as if the walls were listening, as if the floorboards were keeping a record of every step he had taken, every argument they had had, every night they had spent in the same bed, every morning they had woken up to, and he remembered the morning he had found the letter, the letter that was not a letter, the letter that was a list, a list of things she had done for him, a list of things she had sacrificed, a list of things he had taken for granted, a list that was written in her neat, precise handwriting, the handwriting that he had always admired, the handwriting that had taught him how to spell, the handwriting that had written his name on the blackboard when he was small and could not read, the handwriting that had written the words I love you on the card he had given her for their tenth anniversary, the handwriting that had written the words Goodbye on the piece of paper that was tucked under the doorknob of the bedroom door, and he had read it, he had read it three times, four times, five times, until the words lost their meaning, until they became just shapes, just symbols, just marks on a page, until he could not tell if they were words or just the scratches of a pen on paper, and he had folded it, he had put it in his pocket, he had walked out of the house, he had walked to the car, he had driven to the storage unit, he had rented the space, he had moved his things, and now he was here, now he was sitting in the dark, now he was listening to the rain, now he was watching the orchid die, and he thought about the time they had spent in the garden, the time they had spent digging in the dirt, the time they had spent planting the roses, the time they had spent pruning the hedges, the time they had spent sitting on the bench and watching the sunset, the time they had spent holding hands, the time they had spent kissing, the time they had spent making love, the time they had spent talking, the time they had spent laughing, the time they had spent crying, the time they had spent being happy, the time they had spent being sad, the time they had spent being angry, the time they had spent being afraid, the time they had spent being alive, and he realized that he had been misunderstanding the nature of their connection, he had been thinking of it as a possession, he had been thinking of it as a thing that he owned, he had been thinking of it as a thing that he could control, he had been thinking of it as a thing that he could fix, he had been thinking of it as a thing that he could save, but it was not a thing, it was a person, it was a soul, it was a living, breathing, feeling entity that had its own will, its own desires, its own needs, its own boundaries, and he had ignored all of that, he had ignored her pain, he had ignored her anger, he had ignored her love, he had ignored her humanity, and now she was gone, and he was alone, and he was sitting in a storage unit in the rain, and he was watching his orchid die, and he was thinking about the letter, and he was thinking about the list, and he was thinking about the things she had done for him, and he was thinking about the things he had done for her, and he was thinking about the things they had done together, and he was thinking about the things they had lost, and he was thinking about the things they would never have again, and he was thinking about the things that were still possible, and he was thinking about the things that were still waiting, and he was thinking about the things that were still to come, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be loved, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be forgiven, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be understood, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be accepted, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be released, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be let go, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be freed, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be saved, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be kept, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be held, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be cherished, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be honored, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be respected, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be valued, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be treasured, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be protected, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be defended, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be fought for, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be won, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be gained, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be achieved, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be accomplished, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be completed, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be finished, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be done, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be made, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be created, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be built, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be constructed, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be formed, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be shaped, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be molded, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be crafted, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be designed, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be planned, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be organized, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be arranged, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be ordered, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be sorted, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be categorized, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be classified, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be labeled, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be named, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be defined, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be explained, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be clarified, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be illuminated, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be revealed, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be exposed, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be uncovered, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be discovered, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be found, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be located, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be identified, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be recognized, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be acknowledged, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be admitted, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be confessed, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be avowed, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be declared, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be announced, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be proclaimed, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be broadcast, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be transmitted, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be communicated, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be conveyed, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be passed on, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be handed down, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be inherited, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be received, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be accepted, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be embraced, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be welcomed, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be greeted, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be saluted, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be honored, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be revered, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be worshipped, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be adored, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be beloved, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be cherished, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be prized, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be esteemed, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be respected, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be valued, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be treasured, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be protected, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be defended, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be fought for, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be won, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be gained, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be achieved, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be accomplished, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be completed, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be finished, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be done, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be made, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be created, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be built, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be constructed, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be formed, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be shaped, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be molded, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be crafted, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be designed, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be planned, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be organized, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be arranged, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be ordered, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be sorted, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be categorized, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be classified, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be labeled, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be named, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be defined, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be explained, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be clarified, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be illuminated, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be revealed, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be exposed, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be uncovered, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be discovered, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be found, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be located, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be identified, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be recognized, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be acknowledged, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be admitted, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be confessed, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be avowed, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be declared, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be announced, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be proclaimed, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be broadcast, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be transmitted, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be communicated, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be conveyed, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be passed on, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be handed down, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be inherited, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be received, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be accepted, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be embraced, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be welcomed, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be greeted, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be saluted, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be honored, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be revered, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be worshipped, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be adored, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be beloved, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be cherished, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be prized, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be esteemed, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be respected, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be valued, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be treasured, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be protected, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be defended, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be fought for, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be won, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be gained, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be achieved, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be accomplished, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be completed, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be finished, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be done, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be made, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be created, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be built, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be constructed, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be formed, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be shaped, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be molded, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be crafted, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be designed, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be planned, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be organized, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be arranged, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be ordered, and he was thinking about the things that were still to be sorted, and he was thinking about the things that