An unnamed narrator panics. The living room is covered with blood and a dead body lies in the middle of the floor. They debate washing their hands before they leave, but they hear a woman ringing the doorbell, and they know the door is unlocked. They decide to leave and hope no one will know what they’ve done.

Three months earlier, Millie, her husband Enzo, their 11-year-old daughter Ada, and their nine-year-old son Nico move into their new house on Long Island. Millie loves the house and is thrilled by the size of it compared to their former small apartment in the Bronx. It was expensive for their budget, but they bought it at 10% below the asking price, which is miraculous as they were outbid for other houses in lesser neighborhoods with inferior school districts.

Enzo and his friend move the furniture into the house. Nico does not want to unpack, as he is too energetic and excited, but Ada offers to help him, as she is more anxious and diligent about homework and chores. Millie sees someone looking at her through the window of the house across the street, but when she waves, the person disappears.