I was cooking yesterday afternoon when a knock came at my front door. It was a neighbor. She was crying so I invited her in. She is not from this country and just received news about one of her parents who is ill. She hoped to return home in time to see them before things got worse and asked if I could feed her cats while she’s gone.

“Of course,” I said. I hugged her. She smelled of cigarette smoke. I was surprised to find the smell reassuring.

She talked some more and aplogized for her tears. I listened and told her that she didn’t need to apologize. I offered to cook her some food, told her she could stop by later if she needed company. She said she was okay and I didn’t want to push.

Man, I can’t imagine what it must be like to live so far from your family.

[Photo Credit: Lanier67]