First published in Tigershark Magazine : Issue 13
He had not thought she was unhappy, although no one had asked for her consent to marry an old widower. But there was a wariness in her eyes that never really went away.
Meanwhile, he filled out, basking in the silence of her servility. Sated with life, he burst impromptu into song.
Then he came home to her singing as she picked over rice.
She had stopped, the wariness now tinged with fear. It was enough to negate any notion that her momentary display of happiness had anything to do with him.
That was the day he bought the knife.