No matter how dark the room gets I can always see. It looks emptier when I put the lights on so I don't do it if I can help it. Brightness disagrees with me: it hurts my eyes, wastes electricity and encourages moths, all sorts of things. I sit in the dark for a number of reasons.

Darkness is not always darkness

The phone is an instrument of intrusion into order. It is a threat to control. Just when you think you are alone and safe, the call could come that changes your life. Or someone else's. It makes the same flat, mechanical noise for everyone and gives no clues what's waiting there on the other end of the line. You can never be too careful.

You would think there's a natural limit to tears: only so much the body can give at one sitting before it runs dry.

But death is stronger than that and when you cover your eyes you are the one who can't see the dark. The dark still sees you.

Everyone is pretty enough in the dark,”
she whispered.
“No, they are not.” He kissed her before
pulling back abruptly, willing himself to stop.