Can you almost fall in love? I don’t think so. You either do, or you don’t. Love with the Bodyguard struck like lightning but grew slowly, winding. Food and art once brought people together; now I write to give shape to grief, to beauty. Birds remind me of that balance — physics and miracle, mystery and freedom. They move between worlds, guided by stars. You see, one is in love with them. Not almost.

I am fascinated by hands. In fact, I probably always have been, but since I tend to be late with most things, it’s only now that I truly...