Joanna understood that everyone was alive except for the people she cared about the most. And it was winter. The bleak midwinter. “Why don’t you come downstairs and have some breakfast with me?” Martina said, smiling encouragingly at her. “Some oatmeal? Or some eggs? You like eggs, darling.” And so Joanna climbed obediently out of bed and allowed the rest of her life to begin.
