In Absentia

In a room high up in an asylum, a woman sits alone at a table. The night is punctuated by bright spotlights that occasionally illuminate her window. She busies herself sharpening pencils and writing in a notebook, but the pencil tips frequently snap under the pressure of her grip. She places the broken tips on the windowsill. Nearby, a satanic figure lurks, crafted from straw or clay rather than living flesh. After finishing her writing, she tears the page from the notebook, folds it, places it in an envelope, and slides it through a slot. Is she reaching out to her husband? The note reads, “Sweetheart, come.” Written by