Savoring the Mortal World

All of Song Wen's fondest hopes seemed to be tied to food: the hairy crabs her family passed around the dinner table, the birthday cake topped with candles, even the carefully prepared rice porridge and side dishes by her hospital bed...

She opened every seasoning jar and tasted them one by one. She tasted every shade of bitterness and salt, but could never taste all that life had to offer.