It had been three months, and I had grown accustomed to living without a sense of smell.
Rachel installed four smoke alarms and two gas detectors in the apartment. Everything in the refrigerator was labeled with a date.
I checked the bathwater with a thermometer, used timers whenever I cooked, and relied on Rachel to tell me when the flowers bloomed.
I never tested another fragrance.
Rachel converted half of her studio into a fragrance-free zone and had me organize brand archives and write product stories.
I used to remember rain, wood, and even other people's emotions through scent. Now I put those memories into words.
Words weren't something nerve damage could take from me.
My first assignment was to prepare a catalog for an antique furniture shop.
The owner brought me a piece of
