He must have forgotten something on the way to work today. Rummaging inside his bag, he found everything he thought he needed. Wallet. Keys. ID. A pack of Marlboro Lights. Lighter. Breath mints. A notepad. His favorite fountain pen. All the necessary evils were there. Somehow he still felt as if something was missing. He remembers kissing his wife on the cheek before heading out the door. He remembers bringing his children to school and handing each of them lunch money. He remembers he finished the report for today's presentation two days ago. Whatever was the matter? He searched but found no contentment.

His confusion was interrupted by a phone call from his wife. "Honey, you don't seem yourself today. I was a bit worried when you left."

Drat. He had forgotten to rinse off the lipstick smudge on his shirt from last night. It must have been it. And perhaps why the wife was calling, she never called him at the office, was to worm a confession out of him. To hear him tell her, "yes, dear. I have been seeing another woman for five months now."

He felt a sharp pain in his stomach. His gut was slowly rising to his throat and he could taste the bitter-sour liquid from within. She knows.

"You forgot to eat your breakfast this morning."