Full part: I slept with a stranger on my 62nd birthday, and the next morning I woke up alone and saw an envelope on the nightstand. What was inside made me regret that night.

“Thank you for the wonderful evening. Forgive me for what I did afterward. Soon you’ll understand everything.”

I read the message repeatedly.

Whatever warmth I had associated with the previous evening disappeared immediately.

I Tried Calling Daniel

I grabbed my phone and called him.

There was no answer.

I tried again.

Still nothing.

My first thought was that he had stolen something from me.

I quickly opened my handbag and checked my wallet.

My money was still there.

So were my bank cards.

For a few moments, I wondered whether I was frightening myself unnecessarily.

Perhaps the photograph had been a strange attempt at humor. Perhaps Daniel’s message referred to something harmless that I simply did not understand yet.

Then I checked the

small inner pocket of my handbag.

My fear returned immediately.

One Small Key Was Missing

The missing item was not something a stranger should have known existed.