"I’m telling you he’s left me." Eileen said, and when the dumbfounded look on her friends’ face furrowed deeper, she added. "He’s completely disappeared!"

"Gone?" she asked shaking her head in disbelief.

"C’omon, Lisa, what part of completely disappeared is not getting through to you." She held up her index fingers, air quoting. She was frantic, allowing the drama to take hold. The tears came next.

"How? Did he pack up and leave without you knowing?" Lisa asked, keeping her tone as calm as possible. "Did he leave while you were at work, what?"

"No, that’s just it. All of his stuff is still in our apartment. Everything is there even his stupid phone, and he takes that everywhere."

"What about the car?"

"It’s right where he parked it yesterday."

"Have you called his friends, family, or work?"

"Of course, I did. "

"So are the police involved?"

"As of this morning." she said, wiping her eyes with a tissue she’d pulled from her jeans.

"The first thing they wanted was my alibi and then they asked if he was seeing someone else." Their eyes locked. "Lisa, you’d tell me if he was going out on me, wouldn’t you?"

"Get a grip, you know I wouldn’t keep that from you." Lisa was beginning to lose her cool. "Look, Eileen, you and Robert are made for each other. He loves you. He’s as steadfast as one can be." Lisa hugged her friend and then held her face in her hands as she spoke. "He’s your pillar remember?

Eileen braved a smile. "I know. He’s always telling me he is my tall, strong, pillar of strength and that he will always have his feet firmly planted so that when I need him...." Her voice trailed off not wanting to finish. "I gotta go home, Lisa., I’m so tired. "

"Look, Eileen, I can assure you he’s not going out with anyone. Don’t even think along those lines. You call me if there’s anything I can do."