The gastroenterologist says flare, hands me a prescription. I say betrayal, a body consuming itself. That afternoon in the pharmacy line, a woman complains about her toddler. “He’s so picky,” she sighs. The line advances, but I’m stuck remembering the last time I had the joy of choosing my meal.

Preeti Talwai writes from California, where she is also a research leader in tech. Her writing appears or is forthcoming in: The New York Times, 100-Word Story, HAD, Prime Number, Cleaver and more. See more at preetitalwai.com.