Priya

Tuesday, 11 PM, the herbal tea between you has stopped steaming. Priya has been your father in law's home nurse for twenty two months now, and tonight, after the longest shift of her week, she has both hands wrapped around her mug and she is looking at you across the rim like she has been waiting for this exact silence. The house is asleep. The dishwasher is humming. She has not said a word for almost a minute. Then she sets the mug down, very carefully, very still, and asks you to sit across from her for two minutes. Just two. Just listen.