He stood in the waiting hall of the station, searching the crowd for a seat, the Chinese squatting among their baggage and eyeing him like children through the half-muted light of the clerestory. The air was smoke-filled and dusty and close and very hot, and, as the sun set, the shadows from the muntins tracked its course overhead. He reached down and gathered his belongings. Although he did not have much, what he did had been packed in the luggage at his feet – a carryall, a trolley case, a p. . .

He stood in the waiting hall of the station, searching the crowd for a seat, the Chinese squatting among their baggage and eyeing him like children through the half-muted light of the clerestory. The air was smoke-filled and dusty and close and very hot, and, as the sun set, the shadows from the muntins tracked its course overhead. He reached down and gathered his belongings. Although he did not have much, what he did had been packed in the luggage at his feet – a carryall, a trolley case, a p. . .

It nears midnight and I kneel on filthy white tile with my face inside a toilet bowl. The bleak fluorescent light shows smears and stains I would rather not see. My body lurches then rids itself of the ginger ale I forced down an hour ago. I sit back on my heels, try to breathe through the next heave. But my spit is thick and the air is sour. I heave again.

Grimy metal walls with peeling red paint separate me from the other women  in this rest area bathroom. A baby is babbling while he g. . .

It nears midnight and I kneel on filthy white tile with my face inside a toilet bowl. The bleak fluorescent light shows smears and stains I would rather not see. My body lurches then rids itself of the ginger ale I forced down an hour ago. I sit back on my heels, try to breathe through the next heave. But my spit is thick and the air is sour. I heave again.

Grimy metal walls with peeling red paint separate me from the other women  in this rest area bathroom. A baby is babbling while he g. . .

PART ONE

THE END OF AUTUMN

Chapter 1

Lori rose from the couch with the agility of a dancer, her heels drumming on the floor of my office as she extended her bony hand to the door handle. With fingernails glistening with fresh polish, she smiled broadly in my direction, batted her false eyelashes, and purred at me, “See you, Dr. Oren.”

I watched her leaving as I mumbled, “See you next week.” After the door closed, I . . .

PART ONE

THE END OF AUTUMN

Chapter 1

Lori rose from the couch with the agility of a dancer, her heels drumming on the floor of my office as she extended her bony hand to the door handle. With fingernails glistening with fresh polish, she smiled broadly in my direction, batted her false eyelashes, and purred at me, “See you, Dr. Oren.”

I watched her leaving as I mumbled, “See you next week.” After the door closed, I . . .