The Key Emma Kept

Emma carried Mr. Hale’s spare key for six years. Last winter, he asked her to promise that she would not call his son or let anyone decide he could no longer live alone. That evening, smoke curled beneath his door. Emma let herself in and pulled a burning pan from the stove. Mr. Hale sat awake in his chair. “I turned it off hours ago,” he said. The phone on the table began to ring. The screen read DANIEL—his son. Mr. Hale looked at the key in Emma’s hand. “You promised.”