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 by sharpening pencils and writing in a notebook, though 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 slips it through a slot. Is she reaching out to her husband? The message reads, “Sweetheart, come.” Written by