Roger’s life is falling apart, and he’s betting everything he’s got on a big turnaround. Stories told in this format often feel gimmicky. Vetter’s story doesn’t get that way for a second – every reveal hits like a hammer.

A is for Acorn.

The list always started with Acorn; that was one of the rules. For Linda, an acorn perfectly represented nature: clean lines, so compact. She could fill her pockets with them on an afternoon walk. Roger liked how they reminded him of aroused nipples, taut and hard. Irresistible.

The game was a holdover from the early days before Linda stopped loving him.