At my apartment, the kitchen smelled of chicken soup.

I put two bowls on the table and cut Elsie’s bread into little squares.

She sat with the nebulizer mask over her nose and mouth while the machine hummed.

Her breathing was easy now, with no whistle at the end of each breath.

Micah took three spoonfuls without putting down the cereal box.

Then he set it on the counter next to his cup.

“Can I have some more crackers?”