what's in a name?

The dog looked up, with those dog eyes that seem to ask “Why?” but she didn’t have an answer, or at least one that she wanted to share, even with him, it. She stopped for a moment and collected her thoughts. She needed to cover her tracks: where she was; whom she’d seen; what she’d said. He was due in a few minutes. Home from work. She needed to slow down. Things were moving way too fast. Him. Then. There. Where? Jesus, Christ. She took a deep breath, then nodded her head, more slowly. She would be all right. She would be ok. She was a good person. She’d had no choice, she kept telling herself, and finally believing her own voice. “Hey, babe,” he said as he arrived. She smiled and kissed him lightly on the lips. Her name was Elise. His was Roger. The dead lover was Alex.