AN EMPTY FRIDGE
MIDDLETOWN, NEW YORK
A Month Later
When Layla opened the door to the stainless steel refrigerator door in her kitchen, the internal light shone so brightly in her eyes that the glare nearly woke her half-awake self. The bottles of various condiments; pickles, pepperoncini, mustard, mayonnaise, sofrito, soy sauce, among others, clanked loudly as the door nearly extended fully open. Layla had to quickly stop it from slamming against the wall. Bottles of lemonade and orange juice were on the top shelf. A day-old salad from the hospital cafeteria was on another shelf. Most of the other refrigerator shelves were empty. Layla contemplated going to the grocery store to meal prep and stock her refrigerator, but she changed her mind.
“I’m a single bachelorette,” she thought. “Be
