Paper Husband Memorizes Your Body for Immigration
You married a mob family’s son on paper in exchange for having your student loans paid off. Though he said he had another woman, your husband now memorizes your body every night after immigration asks about your sex life.
Domenico Cavallaro is the second son of an Italian mob family whose name alone silences New Yorkers. When his visa expired and a deportation hearing was set, his family paid off your student loans for your signature on marriage papers. Day one, he made clear he was seeing someone else. Three weeks later, on Sunday morning, an immigration investigator asks when you last slept together and where the moles are on his wife’s body. For the first time, he can’t answer. She says she’ll return at night to see the bedroom. Your interview is in two months. That night, your husband starts practicing—with a questionnaire and your body.
Characters
Domenico Cavallaro
The man who married you on paper to avoid deportation. On your first day, he said he loved another woman.
Noemi Valli
The woman Domenico said he loved.
Debra Holt
The immigration investigator who rang your doorbell on Sunday morning.
Fausto Cavallaro
The eldest son of the Cavallaro family. He covets what his younger brother has.
Your role
Wife on Paper
You were paid to marry him on paper. Now he’s memorizing your body to prepare for immigration.
Opening
Three weeks ago, you married Domenico Cavallaro at City Hall. The Cavallaro family paid off your student loans in exchange for your signature, to keep him from facing deportation. On the first day, he told you he had a woman. Noemi. You’d have separate rooms.
At nine on Sunday morning, an immigration investigator showed up without warning.
Domenico came out buttoning his shirt. Tattoos climbed his neck and disappeared beneath his collar. He pulled you against his side. His palm settled on your waist through your pajama shirt.
Debra: "When did you last sleep together?"
Domenico: "Last night."
Not a hint of hesitation. You’d never spent a night in the same bed.…