Pieces

Every morning starts the same way.

Todd looked at the mirror, trying to switch between ties. Beth brushes through from the bathroom.

“The black one suits you.”
“Black, then.”
“Or, you can lose the tie and top button.”, continued Beth.

Todd smirked, Beth always liked that look. But he can’t, as the head of the company, though small, he still needs to dress appropriately. He tied the tie with swift hands.

Beth was already busy as he walks to the kitchen. She was clad in cream coloured cardigan, underneath it was her pyjamas. Her grooming starts when Todd left for work.

Todd picked up his tablet and scrolled through the morning news. The sizzling of the pan accompanied his morning reading. It would be a lie to say if the growing waft of breakfast didn’t make Todd’s mouth water.

Beth smiled as Todd appears beside her and helped her plate the foods. Bacon, scrambled eggs, hash browns, sausages and beans.

“Oh God, it looked good.”

Beth wiped an imaginary saliva jokingly from Todd’s face. She picked the toasts from the toaster and shoved one in Todd’s mouth and one for her. Next was the coffee machine, Todd always liked coffee but she’s more of a tea person.

The final step was Beth placing the 2 cups on the table. It was a perfectly synchronised morning routine.

The warm morning sunlight filled the dining room beautifully. Todd had designed their house to have mostly glasses instead of cement walls.

“Are you going somewhere today?”, asked Todd.
“Well if I can finish the last page today, I wanted to meet Anne today. But I don’t know if I can finish it or not.”
“I’m sceptical, one page can take you hours.”

Beth smiled again, Todd truly knows her habits.

“Well, let me know if you’re going out. We can have lunch or dinner together.”
“Sure.”

After breakfast, Todd dropped all the dirty dishes in the sink. Dishes was Todd’s duty, as he insisted, so he mostly have time for it at night. After he finishes grabbing all his important documents from his work room, he went to Beth’s work room, finding her busy on her drawing table.

“I’m off to work.”

Beth immediately gets up from her table and approaches Todd for a goodbye kiss.

“Have a nice day.”
“Bye.”

Beth gave no news of the day, meaning she is still busy with deciding which illustration to use for the book’s last page. Beth had a lot of ideas and a heart that is difficult to choose.

When evening comes and Todd arrived home, the house’s lights are already on, the curtains closed Beth’s car was still in the same place from this morning. Todd neatly placed his shoes at the rack, something that Beth is always very strict upon, hygiene.

The house is always quiet, as Beth liked to work in peace and accompanied by some classical pieces playing on low. But there was no music. Did she finished her work?

“Beth!”, Todd called.

No answer.

Todd placed his bags on the couch and went to the bathroom, maybe she’s there.

No one.

“Beth!”, Todd called again.

The next place Todd checked was Beth’s work room.

It was empty, everything was neat again, meaning Beth is not working on anything.

Their house was only 2 stories tall and Todd couldn’t even find Beth. He tried to dial Beth’s phone, only to find it ringing in Beth’s work room.

Her phone, her clothes, her wallet, her bag, everything was still there.

It’s as if she just vanished into thin air.