ROLAND
ELMHURST, NEW YORK
Later That Night
The moonlight shone partially into the sleeping area of the small studio apartment, barely illuminating the part of the room nearest the window facing the busy street. Seated in the nearly darkened room was Roland, dejected and confused. He had been sitting there alone for hours after he returned home from work. After that afternoon’s unplanned call to Layla, he wondered what to do next. Desperation filled his entire body and angered him even more. With clenched fists, Roland pounded the nightstand next to him such that it shook violently, causing the lamp to fall to the floor. He gave no heed to the shattered lamp or anything else. All he could focus on was Layla.
“How could this be happening?” he thought. “I’m not gonna let her go.”
He pace
