“Since the beginning of the year.” It was January but she wasn’t sure if he was familiar with the dates here. She’s already had the problem of trying to explain the passage of time to those who measure months differently. In a few months she would have been in this world for a year.

Terra came to sit close to the kitchen, listening for the water to boil.

“Ah, yes. My old housemates are gone.”

It made her sad just to say but before her sadness could touch her features the steady whistle of steaming water rung through the family room.