Prologue

Voyeurism: obsessive watching.

Time Change Sunday

“Spring Forward”

Mark was frustrated. The time change was throwing off his schedule. He needed an excuse to go out, but if he went out now the sky would still be light. Mark’s favorite pastime required the cover of darkness. The clock read eight p.m., but to Mark it looked like seven. “I suppose,” he thought, “ as long as I am out by nine.”

The sky had drizzled a mist all day. But by seven that evening the mist had abated and Mark eagerly anticipated getting out for a long walk.

Like the other nights, Mark’s needs were driven by a particular schedule. Out by nine, in by eleven or twelve. Mark knew the neighbors’ nightly routines. The Garcia’s walk their dog at eight p.m. The Young’s daughter, Cassie, is home from work by 7:30.

Mark reasoned to himself that if his wife, Erin, were doing all that she should be doing as a wife, that he wouldn’t need this type of external gratification. When he met Erin, he was sure that she would meet his needs and he would be able to stop peeping. He was simply a man taking extreme measures to stay faithful to his wife. After all, this wasn’t cheating. Was it?