Lydia Janis boiled water again to cook noodles.
After the water in the pot boiled, she added the noodles. Once they were cooked, she fished them out, cracked two eggs into the water, cooked a few leaves of cabbage, chopped a small handful of green onions, poured in some soup-stock, and added salt and lard to finish a clear soup noodle dish.
She carried the noodles to the table, pulled out chopsticks, and they both sat down at the dining table to eat.
After dinner, before Lydia had time to clear the table, her apron-pocketed phone rang.
"Buzz, buzz, buzz—"
She took out her phone, felt the vibration, and saw an unfamiliar number on the screen, a tight knot of anxiety welled up inside her.
Taking a deep breath, she slid her finger across the phone screen to answer, "Hello, this is Lydia speaking."
