The Leaf That Betrayed You

1.

My husband was sent to the Alaskan North Slope oil fields for two hundred days. We promised to video call for half an hour every day.

It was our agreement, my only comfort during the long winter nights.

On day 199, my son pointed at the tablet screen, his face full of innocence.

"Daddy, the tree outside your window was bare yesterday. How did it grow leaves today?"

The screen went black. He cut the feed.

...

The second the screen went dark, my heart skipped a beat.

A familiar coldness