Last night I dreamt I was throwing a large dinner party. Everyone was there: casseroles and warm bread piled upon the table, dishes clattered, the apartment was a mess. Suddenly I realized I didn’t live here any more with you, and had no right to all of this; furthermore, all you wanted right now was to come home from work and be still for a moment.

But I had locked you out. You were standing at the foot of the stairs, searching for your key. How could I have taken this from you? How would I possibly explain, when you came in the door?