You take a seat on one of the three chairs in the kitchen and take a big breath. It's a bit dry in here. You take a drink of water. You set the water bottle down on the floor. You take in your surroundings. Facing the front door, the first thing you notice is the bright view out of the sliding door to the porch, washing the living room with a diffuse light, catching dust motes in the air and striking them brilliant and full, luminous like filament. It's a blue sky but just along the horizon is a deep and inky darkness. Hanging on the wall to the right of the balcony is a painting by a friend of yours. You've always loved it. So subtle, so confidently composed.