They had both decided that she should go to her sister’s.
It was agreed that she go for a visit. Well, it would be more than just a visit. Her sister being sick, it meant she’d be spending a week there, while her sister got over it. No big deal, until… On the third day it started. He had no idea why it started; it just did. It began with him sleeping, bang in the middle of the bed. So much room! He’d skip shaving for a while. In the morning, he turned her mother’s photo around. That was when he realised that he’d have to keep notes on what he was doing.
He’d let the stuff in the dishwasher build up for a few days. He’d skip over a rubbish collection day, and only water the pot plants when he actually felt like it. He’d feed the cat as often as he had it in mind to do so. He would really pile it up in his bowl.
It was all really childish, and he knew it.
On the day before her return, he would methodically put everything back to rights.
Stroking the animal in question, he whispered, “It’ll be our little secret.”