Vegetarian Chili

The gas line was changed and the pilot left unlit by the incompetent gas repairman.

I made vegetarian chili in the evening without knowing the danger I was in. Green peppers, red peppers, kidney beans, cumin, coriander and red chili powder, a dash of oregano, a spoonful of cocoa, salt and a can of tomato sauce. The aroma wafted towards the ceiling while basmati rice cooked on a different burner.

During dinner, my husband checked the pilot and showed me that it was unlit. You can’t just light the pilot under the burners, he said. You have to light the one under the oven too.

I had barely escaped a gas explosion.

I was depressed from not having a job. I fought with my best friend, my husband told me not to call him at work and I live far away from my family.

I wanted to be loved, to show love, to shower affection on anyone other than myself. But now, knowing that I could be dead, I look at myself and see that perhaps I am someone worth loving.