When I opened my eyes, I could see her. Even if I closed my eyes and opened them again, she did not disappear. She intruded deep into my everyday life and looked natural as though she was always there.

I emptied my plate and stood in front of the sink. Even as I washed the dishes, Mijin stood next to me.

“Do you remember when you first came here? You opened the fridge wanting to make me something, but I didn’t have anything. We didn’t have any choice but to buy some beer and snacks from the convenience store. If I had known, I would’ve gone grocery shopping beforehand. In the end, I didn’t get to eat anything you made for me.”

I shook the water off the plates and put it in the cupboard. I then made some coffee in the mug that Mijin gave me as a gift.

“Would you like some?” I asked her, who couldn’t do anything but look. I did not wait for an answer. Instead, I made some coffee in another mug that looked the exact same.

I picked up the two mugs in each hand and sat down on the bed. I put one on the bedside table. White vapor rose from the lips of the mug. Mijin liked to stand still with her lips on top of the steaming mug, saying that it made her relax. I also tried putting my lips on the mug. The faint...