The Conservatory Clock
When a timber conservator notices subtle anomalies in his home's environmental logs, he uncovers a calculated scheme to isolate his recovering wife.
Fictional story. Depicts psychological manipulation, emotional distress, and gaslighting. Viewer discretion advised.Chapter 1: The Weight of Timber
At thirty-five, I made my living diagnosing the subtle decay inside solid wood. As an architectural timber conservator along the fog-bound coast of Maine, my days were spent in silent historic structures—eighteenth-century meetinghouses, weather-beaten barn frames, and coastal lighthouses. I knew how moisture crept through concealed joints, how rot moved without making a sound, and how a structure could appear entirely sound from the outside while hollowed out from within. My job was to locate the hidden weakness before the roof caved in.
I brought that meticulous eye to everything except my own home.