She spent several minutes gently guiding it toward the support she’d installed, careful not to break the small green fruit growing beneath the leaves.

The work demanded patience rather than force.

She found that strangely comforting.

PART 25

A year after the breakfast that changed her life, Iris stood in the same kitchen making coffee.

She had invited Lena over before work, and the apartment smelled of toasted bread and basil from the windowsill.

Outside, morning light moved across the bay.

She took down two mugs, poured carefully, and placed them on the table.