Chapter 43
Everything at Once
The craving arrived without warning in the middle of the day.
One moment, the apartment was quiet and ordinary. The next, the thought of salted cucumbers dipped in sweet yogurt became so specific and urgent that standing still felt impossible. The refrigerator offered nothing close to it. The cupboard was worse. Within minutes the need had turned sharp enough to sting behind the eyes.
Helen arrived at the same time the tears did.
She took one look at the situation from the doorway and stepped inside without waiting for an invitation. “Hormones,” she said immediately, as if diagnosing weather. “Sit. Tell me what it wants before the crying gets worse.”
The words broke whatever thin control remained. Tears spilled fast and without dignity. Helen only sighed
