The Lingering Scent of Bleach on the Counter

Dear Delyara, I wiped down the entire kitchen table three times tonight, using a heavy dose of industrial lemon bleach to scrub away some imaginary grease. Now, the sharp, chemical sting is hanging in the air so thick I can taste it in the back of my throat. It completely masks the smell of the rain outside. Sometimes you just need to clean something physical until your arms ache, just to feel like you have a tiny bit of control over a small corner of your day. I’m sitting here with red, dry palms, watching the surface dry under the bright lightbulb, waiting for my mind to slow down to match the quiet of the room.