“Sit down.” He began to unmake the towers and arrange the pieces on the board. “What’s your favorite color?” Not waiting for her to answer, he said, “I forgot something.”

“What?” Her favorite color was the blue of his robe. He flicked off the light and left the room without replying. Two minutes, six minutes. She raised the blinds so that moonlight crisped the edges of shadows. Time goes slowly, too, she thought, and stood to leave. Then he reappeared. “I thought you went to bed,” she said.