Three Cups of Morning Coffee at the Oakhaven Diner Changed Everything

a warm blanket of scent that made my stomach rumble for the first time in weeks.

Frank set the wooden chess board between us, his fingers moving slowly as he placed the white and black pawns on their squares.

“Your hand looks steady,” Frank said, pointing his index finger at my blue mug.

“It is,” I said. “Ben checked my pulse yesterday continue reading …