The lock clicked.
Mara pushed the apartment door open, the hinges groaning softly. She stepped inside, kicking the door shut behind her with her heel. The briefcase hit the floor near the entranceway with a dull thud. She slid her keys onto the small entryway table, the metal scraping faintly against the wood surface.
She stood motionless for a moment, shoulders slumped slightly beneath her damp coat. The silence of the apartment pressed in. She kicked off her shoes, one after the other, leaving them near the mat. She ran a hand through her hair, loosening strands from the tight bun at the nape of her neck.
She walked towards the kitchen. The overhead light flickered once before settling into a steady, pale glow. She opened the refrigerator, the soft hum momentarily louder. She scanned the contents. Milk, some leftover takeout containers, half a block of cheese. She closed the fridge door.
