Sophia is sinking into a state of sad resignation when she receives a postcard offering hope. Without much thought, she seizes the opportunity to leave the dry heat of Arizona and settle into a spare cottage in the fog of Northern California. As she discovers a new landscape and pace of life, she questions her obligation to return home.

Denise is author of the novel After the Sour Lemon Moon (2014). Her work has appeared in West Marin Review, Kindred, Fish & Game Quarterly, and Taproot. Denise lives and works in San Francisco, California. See more at deniseparsons.com.