Haaji's insides exploded up through his mouth and he bit down on his heart to catch it before it fell out. He tried to think rationally, convince himself with the weight of wishes that she had just slipped out for a moment--something she had never ever done without telling him--or was called away to help out a neighbor or friend.

He dressed in whatever was within arm's reach and started knocking on doors.

"Have you seen Simone this morning?" he asked.

Each "no" hung heavy with worry, rained of pity. He understood they took his simple query as her obituary.