Page 13 of Absolute Certainty
She hadn’t seen Jay at the coffee shop today, which was a good thing because it probably meant that he either had a short, early shift or a day off—two things she was sure he could use.
Eyes focused on the screen, Sahar forked an asparagus spear into her mouth as the film opened on a panning shot of two neighboring houses. The sound of crows cawing in the sceneinstantly made her heart drum faster, and she could already tell that this film was about to destroy her.
When she finished the movie and dried her tears, her initial thoughts were about her own dad—how grateful she was that not only was he a good person, but he was alive.
Jay was a gifted director, there was no doubt about that, and the fact that they’d shotCutsexclusively on film made the entire viewing experience that much more haunting. It was like stumbling on someone’s old family videos and pressing play to unleash all the terrors they didn’t know were being recorded in the first place.
But the question of whether any of it was real or made up pounded in her head.
She read over the words, paused on the screen once more:In loving memory of Michael Sharp.A chill swept through her as she questioned if the film’s undeniable hero, Michael Swift, had any relation to the person the story was dedicated to.
SAHAR
I failed at mentally preparing myself for Cuts. That was BRUTAL. I’m sending you my therapy bills this month. My heart is in absolute shambles.
She didn’t wait for his reply and instead went to get ready for bed after washing her dishes. She had plans to finally start reading beyond the first page ofEvery Speck of Dust,but she’d do that from her bed, despite it still being light out.After tackling her skincare, brushing her teeth, and grabbing a glass of water for her bedside table, Sahar drew the covers and made herself comfortable.
When she looked down at her phone, Jay had replied to her.
JAY
Forward them to me. What’d you think of it outside of that?
SAHAR
I genuinely loved it. Five hearty stars on Letterboxd. The writing was harrowing, and the performances were incredible. That final shot of Brady standing on his porch was so evocative I’m going to have to sit with the emotions for a while. It felt so raw.
She really,reallywanted to ask how personal it was, but she kept that to herself. Jay had directed the film, but he shared the writing credit with Patrick Sharp. Judging by the surname, she could assume some things, sure, yet even that felt wrong.
JAY
Are you just saying that to be nice, or do you mean it?
SAHAR
I don’t sugarcoat, remember?
JAY
Thank you then. It means a lot coming from you.
SAHAR
You’re very welcome. I have tomorrow off, so I plan on reading. Did you have a good day today? You weren’t at the coffee shop, so I hope that means you took a break.
JAY
I did, yeah. Went upstate to visit a friend’s set.
And I’ll be off most Sundays for the rest of the summer since my kid will be with me until late August. Did you?
Jay had a kid? A whole child that he shared with someone else? He was someone’s dad? It was such...an unexpected thing to think about, and good lord, she had even more questions aboutCutsnow. Once more,wasany of it personal?
SAHAR
I did! I didn’t know you had a kid! Just one?
“You ask way too many questions, Sahar,” she berated herself aloud.
