Jessica had just survived a brutal week. Endless corrections from her boss, preparing reports for investors, constant meetings, deadlines, and running around the office in heels for eight hours straight. By Friday, her legs were throbbing, her blisters were burning, and the need to collapse onto the couch felt almost physical.
But at last the evening arrived. The quiet of her apartment, the soft glow of the screen, and some silly YouTube videos were exactly what she needed. Luckily, there was some leftover lasagna in the fridge from the night before. She opened the door, and at that moment her stomach growled so loudly it seemed to echo through the whole apartment. She was glad James had gone on a fishing trip with his friends and could not hear it. Or so she believed.
She made herself comfortable, speared a chunk of lasagna with her fork, and without looking, brought it to her mouth. Jessica had no idea that her missing boyfriend was not at a lake at all. Something had gone terribly wrong earlier that morning, a strange malfunction, a burst of light, and he had shrunk down to tiny, almost invisible size. He tried calling out, tried to escape, but ended up trapped within layers of pasta and sauce, a helpless passenger on his way to doom.
Jessica just wanted to relax. She was hungry. Very hungry. And without realizing it, she had already sealed the fate of the man she loved.