Chapter 374

• April
• I sat at the small dining table tucked away in a corner of the kitchen; my hands clasped as I tried to focus on an image of the Buddha which had always made me feel peaceful. But tonight a hollow feeling in the pit of my stomach made me aware that something was horribly wrong. I could not concentrate easily.
• My eyes absently ran over this delightful corner of my large L-shaped kitchen. This little area was my refuge. The cheerful yellow wallpaper created a sunny disposition no matter how low and weary I felt. adorned with the unlacquered copper pots I had picked from a flea market once a long while ago, the soapstone counters that quickly patina, and a simple central dining table instead of a kitchen island, the kitchen's lived-in atmosphere instantly makes anyone who enters feel right at home.