to the hills of northern california for holding me in splendor. bangkok and its lesson of solitude. the half-lit seat at

luka in silom. the counter at hungry ghost on flatbush. the fireplace at high ground. green foxfire at the

hambidge center. the jane austen studio at the vermont studio center.

to the echo and collage of divisadero. the thick love of beloved. the snap of the shipping news. the long,

traveling songs of gawain and the green knight, little house, lonesome dove.

to mariya and mika, odd friends of the heart. will and capp st, steadfast. mai nardone, cantankerous and true.

jessica walker and tiswit. brandon taylor, alien twin. lauren groff, champion of women. bill clegg and sarah

mcgrath and ailah ahmed, tenacious believers to the end. aaron gilbreath at longreads and the team at the

missouri review. all of riverhead and little, brown.

to my mom and ruellia, for what is hard to say. my dad, once more. my 奶奶 and family across the ocean.

avinash, my home.

and to spike, prince among cats, who stayed with me long enough to see this boat to water.