his mother stood at the stove, a warm light behind her. valery or val as most people called her, had a hyacinth ’ s delicate stalk. she had an earthy clean aspect, there was something floral about her, like a ruffled velvet iris, full and dense, while remaining lined and pale. her brown eyes were cool and distant, like those of an ancient poetess. she wore her hair pinned back into a loose ponytail, and above her left breast pocket she wore a watch fob that could be a button off a jacket. watercolor painting