Chapter Two: A Perfect Day

“Are you threatening my promotion unless I accept illegal scheduling?” I placed my phone on his desk with the recorder open. “Please say it again.” He shot to his feet. In the end, he only told me to get out. The day was too perfect to belong to my life. A blocked coronary artery was reopened. A girl who had swallowed a bottle of pills woke and agreed to see a counselor. At lunch I discovered that the cafeteria put sugar in its scrambled eggs and tomatoes. Every sound was distinct, yet none could wound me. Lu Wenchuan waited outside the ED that afternoon. He wore a dark jacket and fresh stubble, holding a brown envelope. He had lost weight since our separation.