Let The Trash Keep Each Other Warm

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The blizzard had sealed us in and cut the power for four days, and the indoor temperature had dropped below zero.

My five-year-old daughter, Maisie, was shivering in my arms, wearing only a thin sweater.

My husband, Gary Miller, was outside. He had taken the last of our emergency heating briquettes and arranged them in a giant heart shape in the snow.

He did it because the woman living next door had texted him, saying she wished she could see some fireworks.

He lit the briquettes. The firelight reflected, warm and satisfied, on his face. He waved enthusiastically toward the woman's second-story window.

I pulled my gaze back and touched Maisies forehead. It was already burning up.

Gary burst through the door, tracking snow. He was beaming as he told me, "She smiled, Audra. Sherry actually smiled." He added, with a dismissive wave of his hand, "We have parkas and blankets. We'll tough it out."

I held my now semiconscious daughter closer and pushed away the hand he reached out to me.

"Get out of my way."

He was right. From this moment on, I wasn't going to "tough it out" anymore.

I was going to take my daughter to a spring he would never be a part of.

Gary Miller pushed open the door, letting in a gust of frigid air and the faint, cloying scent of gardenia, his signature cologne.

I tightened my hold on five-year-old Maisie. She was tucked deep into a sleeping bag, and her breath misted in the cold air.

The power had been out for two days. Our only remaining heat source was the few boxes of coal briquettes stored in the utility closet.

Gary walked straight to the closet, hauled out two full boxes, and started for the door.

I slid off the bed and blocked his path, my eyes locked on the boxes. "What are you doing? That is the last of the fuel."

He looked at me with an expression of weary martyrdom. "Sherry Kinsley lives next door. She's alone, the powers out, and shes already complaining about the cold. Shes delicate. What if she freezes? Neighbors help neighbors, Audra."

I grabbed the edge of a cardboard box. "Maisie has a fever. The temperature in this house is dropping fast." I kept my voice low, but it vibrated with cold fury. "If you give her the coal, how are we supposed to survive? Are you trying to let your own wife and daughter freeze to death?"

Gary easily yanked the boxes free. My hand scraped against the rough cardboard. I stumbled backward, hitting the coat rack.

He smoothed the collar of his thermal shirt, giving me a quick, disdainful glance. "Audra Price, when did you become so selfish? We have down coats and blankets. We can tough this out. Sherry doesn't even have proper winter gear." He paused, his lip curling. "You can't just think about yourself. Be generous. Don't make me think you're nothing but a bitter nag."

The front door slammed shut, letting a blast of wind and snow into the hall.

I scrambled up and pressed my face to the windowpane, looking through the ice-frosted glass.

In the backyard, Gary dumped the boxes of fuel onto the snow, meticulously arranging the black briquettes into a massive heart shape. He pulled out a lighter and ignited them.

Flames shot up, bathing his face in an unnatural, satisfied red glow. He tilted his head back, waving up toward the second-floor window next door, where a single candlelight flickered.

The curtain moved. A silhouette appeareda slender figure in what looked like a thin slip dress, holding a wineglass.

Gary pulled out his phone and sent a voice message. I could hear the tinny sound through the wall.

Sherry, honey, this fire might not be as pretty as fireworks, but itll warm your little heart. See how the flame looks exactly like my heart for you?

I turned away.

Maisie whimpered in the sleeping bag. Her forehead was like a furnace.

I picked up the old tablet, hoping to put on a show to distract her, but a message popped up: "Subscription Expired."

Gary came in humming, brushing snow off his coat. He was sending another voice message as he kicked off his boots.

"Alright, alright, stop pouting. I already renewed your Platinum VIP account. Watch whatever you want. Don't worry about data, I put you on an unlimited plan."

I shoved the tablet at him. "Maisie wants to watch Paw Patrol. Can you renew the account for the house?"

Gary pushed my hand away. "Renew it? Are you kidding? We have no cash to spare right now. Besides, too much screen time is bad for a kid's eyes. It's good the powers out; maybe shell break the habit."

I stared into his eyes. "You just spent hundreds of dollars on a Platinum VIP account for Sherry Kinsley."

Garys face hardened. He quickly locked his phone and jammed it into his coat pocket. "Were you spying on my phone? Audra, where is the basic trust between a husband and wife? Don't I deserve privacy?"

I pointed to the bedroom. "Maisie's fever is spiking at 102 degrees. Go get the Motrin. Its on the top shelf of the utility closet."

Gary shook his head, already turning for the door. "Its just a fever. Bundle her up; she'll sweat it out. Stop being so dramatic. Sherry's water pipes might have burst. I need to go help her fix them."

He snatched his toolbox. "Shes a single woman living alone. If I don't help her, who will? Cant you be reasonable for once?"

He charged out into the storm.

I held the limp Maisie in my arms, listening to the faint sound of laughter drifting over from the next house.

Around 3 AM, I checked my phone and saw a new post on Sherrys social media feed. The photo showed two shadows cozied up in front of a blazing hearth. The caption read: "Snowy night, warm company. So glad to have you."

The fuel in that hearth was the last of the coal from my house.

I put the phone down and began systematically searching the house, packing every usable supply into my old hiking backpacks.

The next morning, Gary returned, a tell-tale hickey visible on his neck.

He collapsed onto the sofa. "Honey, do we have any food? Im starving." He groaned, rubbing his back. "I was up all night fixing pipes. My back is killing me. Make me a big bowl of hot soup noodles. Put two eggs in it."

I was in the kitchen, carefully feeding warm water to Maisie. I glanced at him. The pot on the stove held a small amount of thin rice porridgeall that was left, and it was reserved for Maisie.

I picked up the pot. In front of him, I slowly, deliberately poured the entire contents into the trash can.

Gary shot upright. "Are you insane?! That's food! Do you have any idea what the situation is outside? And you just dump it? Are you sick in the head?"

I tossed the empty pot into the sink. "I'd feed it to the dog before I gave it to you."

Gary pointed a shaky finger at me. "Audra Price, what the hell is your problem? I just went to help a neighbor fix a leaky pipe! Why are you being so passive-aggressive? Your heart is the size of a pinprick! Why can't you be understanding, like Sherry?"

I turned toward a cabinet, searching for a piece of hidden chocolate Maisie had stashed months ago.

Gary spotted it, snatched the candy bar from my hand, and shoved it into his pocket. "This is mine. Sherry has low blood sugar; she woke up dizzy this morning. She needs this for an emergency boost."

I reached out to grab it back. "That's for Maisie! She hasn't eaten anything solid in a day!"

Gary shoved me hard. I stumbled and hit the wall.

He protected his pocket. "Kids shouldn't eat too much candy, it ruins their teeth! Sherry needs this for survival!" He paused, straightening his coat. "Besides, Im just cultivating a good relationship with her. She can help us out later if we need it."

He hurried toward the neighbor's house.

Through the window, I saw Sherry standing at the second-floor sill, wearing my expensive, delicate lace thermal undershirt. The neckline was pulled low. She bent over to smile at him, the garment hanging loosely on her. Gary reached out, pinching her waist through the windowpane, and they shared a long, private smile.

Thirty minutes later, Gary was back. I pointed to his phone, which he'd left charging on the nightstand. "Sherry is wearing my clothes."

Garys eyes flickered. "Oh. Her clothes got wet, she didn't have a spare. I just lent her a set for an emergency. You have so many clothes, its not like youll miss one thermal set." He scoffed. "Look at you. Why is your mind always in the gutter? She borrowed a shirt, and youre already spinning a sordid story. You are utterly irrational."

I didn't argue further. I walked into the bedroom.

Seeing my silence, Gary just huffed. "That's right. It's normal for a man to have a little fun. As long as you behave and stop being so suspicious, this house is still yours."

He went into the bathroom. I heard the shower turn on.

I picked up his phone, which was plugged in on the nightstand. I typed in Sherry's birthday as the password.

I opened his banking app and transferred every liquid cent from his primary account. Then, I opened his insurance folder and purchased a massive accidental death and dismemberment policy, listing Maisie as the sole beneficiary.

I deleted the confirmation texts and placed the phone back on the nightstand.

From under the bed, I dragged out a signal booster. The screen flickered a few times and finally connected to a faint satellite signal.

I sent my coordinates and a short message to a former contact:

"Coordinates confirmed. Awaiting extraction."

The reply came back instantly:

"Received. Blizzard too heavy for rotary. ETA: Three days."

Gary emerged from the bathroom, toweling his hair. He saw me sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Honey, make a pot roast tonight, okay? Sherry said she's craving home cooking. I'll take a plate over to her."

I avoided his hand and gave him a faint, chillingly calm smile. "Of course. Ill start preparing right now."

Gary paused, then grinned, relieved. "Thats my girl. A woman who knows how to be supportive. Don't worry, I'll be nicer to you now. As long as you don't make a fuss."

I touched the small folding knife concealed in my pocket.

Deep in the night, Maisie began to convulse beneath the blanket. Her jaw was clenched, her eyes rolled back, and a horrible rattling sound came from her throat.

I frantically searched the medical kit, finding only half a bottle of liquid Motrin.

As I struggled to twist the cap off, Garys phone chirped.

It was a voice message from Sherry, her voice laced with a dramatic sniffle. "Gary, my head hurts so much. I think I'm coming down with something."

Gary, who had been playing a video game, instantly bolted up.

He lunged across the bed and snatched at the medicine bottle in my hand. "Give it to me! Sherry isnt feeling well!"

I held the bottle in a death grip. "Maisie is having a seizure! This is life-saving medicine!" My voice was a desperate hiss. "Sherry only has a headache! Maisie could die! Are you even human? She's your daughter!"

He brutally wrenched my fingers apart. "Kids get fevers all the time! Shell shake it off!" He was shouting now. "Sherry is delicate! What if she gets a high fever and damages her brain? Can you pay for that? Give me the damn medicine!"

In the struggle, his elbow slammed into my cheekbone.

Smash.

The bottle flew from my hand, shattering against the stone floor.

The pink liquid mixed with shards of glass, splattering everywhere.

The silence was broken only by Maisie's shallow, ragged gasps.

Gary froze, then his face went purple with rage. He hauled back and slapped me across the face. "You crazy bitch! If neither of us can have it, then no one can!" He didn't even glance down at his daughter. "You couldn't even handle this one simple task! You ruined Sherrys medicine! You did that on purpose, didn't you?"

He shoved the door open. "God, youre toxic! I'm going to check on Sherry. You stay here and reflect on what you've done!"

The door slammed. I threw myself over Maisie.

I rushed to the yard, scooped a basin full of snow, mixed it with what little cold water was left in the pitcher, and created a slush bath. I soaked a towel and began relentlessly wiping Maisies forehead, armpits, and the palms of her hands. The water was icy, and my hands quickly swelled and reddened, but I didn't dare stop.

By three in the morning, Maisie's temperature finally dropped, and the convulsions ceased.

A video call came in. It was Garys mother, Maureen. On the screen, Gary sat beside her, peeling an apple.

Maureen glared at me from the screen. "I heard you wouldnt give that nice Sherry woman the medicine she needed?" Her voice was harsh and self-righteous. "Audra, you need to have foresight. Miss Kinsleys family owns factories! They have money!"

She leaned closer to the phone. "Gary is at a critical point in his career! He needs people like her to back him up. What do you do besides raise a child? Youre useless! Don't get in Garys way!" She gave me a severe look. "If you take care of Miss Kinsley, youll be rewarded. If you cross her, you'll be out of the Miller family!"

Gary took a bite of the apple. "Mom's right. Sherry can elevate my career. Just be a good wife, and your place as the main one is secure." He smiled mockingly. "I wont be home tonight. Sherry was upset and needs company."

I stared at the mother and son on the screen.

I ended the video call and circled the next day's date on the kitchen calendar. That was the final confirmed date for my extraction.

I looked at Maisie sleeping peacefully in my arms and kissed her forehead.

"Just a little longer, baby."

The fifth day. The blizzard had passed, but the temperature had plunged even lower.

Early in the morning, the front door was kicked open.

Gary supported Sherry, who walked in, looking rosy-cheeked and wearing the down parka hed obviously taken from my closet.

She pinched her nose. "Gary, what is that smell? Its awful in here."

Gary gave a weak, appeasing laugh. "That'll be my wife, the sour-faced hag. She hasnt bathed in days. I'll make her scrub up later."

He looked at me, his face turning cold. "The heating pipe next door burst completely. Its uninhabitable. Sherry will be staying here from now on. Clear out the master bedroom. Change the sheets, she likes things spotless." He threw me a blanket. "Take Maisie to the utility closet. It has no windows, so it will hold heat better. You can stay there."

Sherry walked over to the sofa and picked up Maisies favorite bunny stuffed animal. "Oh, this is disgusting. So many germs."

With a flick of her wrist, she tossed the bunny straight into the cold, empty fireplace.

"No!" I lunged forward, but Gary grabbed my arm.

Flames quickly consumed the rabbit. Maisie cried and tried to fight past Gary to save it, but he kicked her legs out of the way. "Stop crying! Its better this way! Out with the old, in with the new!" He looked at Sherry. "Sherry is doing this for your health, you ungrateful child. You might have gotten a bacterial infection."

I stared at the ashes in the hearth.

I looked up at Gary. "You're absolutely right. Out with the old, in with the new."

Gary frowned at my tone. "Why are you smiling? Go make dinner! Sherry is hungry. Get out the best food we have. Im going to have a couple of drinks tonight."

I nodded. "Fine. I'll get ready. Ill make you both a feast tonight."

I went to the kitchen and gathered the last of the preserved meats, canned goods, and dry provisions.

Into the bottle of expensive red wine, I crushed ten sleeping pills.

Ground to a fine powder, and shaken well.

At dinner, Garys cheeks were flushed. Under the table, one hand rested intimately on Sherry's thigh.

"See, Audra? This is perfect. You can handle the cooking and cleaning, and Sherry can handle my social engagements and business networking." He grinned. "The three of us, happy and successful. How perfect is that?"

Sherry leaned into his embrace and smiled a saccharine smile at me. "Thanks for doing all the hard work, older sister. I'll make sure Gary takes good care of you."

I refilled their glasses. "Drink up. Its cold outside. You need to keep warm."

I watched them drink glass after glass until they finally slumped, unconscious, over the table.

The smile instantly dropped from my face.

I dragged their limp bodies into the master bedroom and dumped them on the bed. I stripped them both naked and arranged their limbs into a compromising embrace.

I took out my phone, snapped a dozen photos, and recorded a short video.

Then, I began to move.

I emptied the house of every staple: the last of the rice, the flour, the oil, the clothes, the blankets, the remaining medicine, the hand warmers.

I went to the emergency generator shed. I unscrewed the spark plug and dropped it into the sewer drain. Without that single part, the generator would be inert.

Finally, I strapped the unconscious Maisie to my chest, threw the two heavy hiking packs over my shoulders, and opened the front door.

In the blizzard night, a heavily modified off-road vehicle waited at the curb.

I settled Maisie into the back seat, then glanced back at the house. The light was still on in the master bedroom, where two bodies were asleep.

I shut the car door. "Let's go."

The tires ground against the packed snow and sped away.

The next afternoon.

Gary woke up, shivering violently.

He groaned, reaching for the blanket, but his hand hit a cold, naked body. He opened his eyes, saw a nude Sherry beside him, and a flood of last night's memories rushed in.

He grinned weakly and called out, "Honey, turn the heat up. Why is it so damn cold?"

No response. Silence.

He crawled out of bed, finding only his own shirt covering his body. The bedding was gone.

He stumbled out of the bedroom, yelling "Audra Price!" The sound echoed in the empty house.

On the living room table was a single sheet of A4 paper, weighed down by the signed divorce papers.

Pasted onto the paper was the picture of him and Sherry, naked and intertwined.

Below the photo, written in stark red ink, were four words: