6:47
June takes photos of the sunset every day. Same spot on her roof. 6:47 PM.
She's forty-one. Lives in Delhi. Works from home doing medical transcription. Types what doctors say.
Her neighbor Priya asks: "Why do you do that?"
"Do what?"
"Same picture every day."
"I just do."
Her daughter Anjali calls from Toronto. "You still taking those pictures?"
"Yes."
"Of sunsets?"
"Yes."
"Okay."
They talk about Anjali's job. Her roommate. Something about a gym membership. Hang up.
June goes to the roof. 6:47. Takes the photo.
At work she types: "Patient presents with lower back pain. Six weeks duration. Gradual onset."
Then: "Patient presents with Type 2 diabetes. Poor glycemic control."
Then: "Patient presents with fractured radius. Fall from bicycle."
Random cases. Different problems.
She goes to the roof. 6:47. Takes the photo. Stays up there for a bit. Watching.
Priya comes up sometimes. They don't talk much. Just stand there.
June's sister calls. "You didn't answer last week."
"Sorry. Busy."
"With what?"
"Work."
"You work from home."
"Still busy."
Her sister sighs. Talks about her son's college applications. June half-listens. Says she has to go. Hangs up.
6:47. Roof. Photo. The sky looks different today. Can't say how. Just different. Takes the photo anyway.
Her electricity bill came. Forgot to pay it. Adds it to the pile of mail on the counter.
At work: "Patient presents with chronic headaches. Three months."
Then: "Patient presents with shortness of breath. No previous cardiac history."
Then: "Patient presents with dermatitis. Both hands."
Types it all. Files it.
6:47. Photo. Coughs a bit. Has been coughing lately. Doesn't think about it.
Anjali calls. "How are you?"
"Fine."
"You sound congested."
"I'm fine."
"Maybe see a doctor."
"Maybe."
They talk about the weather. Anjali's boyfriend broke up with her. Or she broke up with him. June isn't sure. Says supportive things. Hang up.
Her toilet is running. Been running for weeks. Should call someone. Doesn't.
6:47. Photo. Hand shakes a little. Image comes out blurry. Takes another one. Blurry too.
Priya asks: "You okay?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"You look tired."
"I'm fine."
At work more cases. Hip replacement. Pneumonia. Anxiety disorder. Kidney stones. Types it all.
Goes to the roof. 6:47. Photo. Sits down after. Stays up there until dark.
Her sister texts: "Mom's birthday next week. Are you coming?"
June: "Can't. Work."
Sister: "You can take one day off."
June doesn't respond.
Building maintenance fee is due. Priya knocked about it yesterday. Said she'd pay it. Hasn't.
6:47. Photo. Can't really see the buildings across the street today. Just haze. Takes the photo anyway.
Anjali texts: "You should visit."
June: "Can't right now."
Anjali: "When?"
June: "I don't know. Soon."
At work: "Patient presents with persistent cough. Four weeks duration."
Then: "Patient presents with shoulder impingement. Repetitive motion injury."
Then: "Patient presents with gastroesophageal reflux."
Types it. Goes to roof. 6:47. Photo.
Coughs more today. Sits down. Waits for it to stop. Takes the photo.
Her phone has a lot of sunset photos. Doesn't know how many. A lot. Scrolls through them sometimes. They look the same mostly. Some are blurry. Some aren't.
Her sister calls. "You didn't come to Mom's birthday."
"Sorry. I was busy."
"You're always busy."
"I had work."
"Doing what? You work from home. You can work anywhere."
June doesn't respond.
"Are you okay?" her sister asks.
"I'm fine."
Her sister doesn't believe her. Hangs up.
6:47. Photo. Sky looks thick today. Everything looks thick. Takes the photo.
At work: "Patient presents with wheezing. History of asthma."
"Patient presents with knee pain. Osteoarthritis."
"Patient presents with fatigue. Unknown etiology."
Types it all. Files it. Goes to roof.
6:47. Photo. Coughs while taking it. Image is shaky. Takes another one. Also shaky.
Priya stopped asking if she's okay. Just nods when they see each other.
Anjali calls. June doesn't answer. Anjali texts: "Please call me back."
June texts: "I'm fine. Just busy."
Doesn't call back.
Her electricity got shut off. Forgot to pay. Again. Calls to turn it back on. They want two months' payment plus reconnection fee. Says she'll pay tomorrow. Doesn't.
Sits in the dark apartment. Charges her phone at work during the day.
6:47. Roof. Photo. Sky is... something. Can't describe it. Just takes the photo.
Next day electricity is back on. Priya paid it. Knocked on the door. Said she added it to the maintenance fee June owes.
"Thanks."
"You need to pay that."
"I will."
Doesn't.
At work types cases. Different problems. Same typing. Files everything.
6:47. Photo. Coughs. Sits. Takes photo.
Has been doing this a while now. Doesn't remember when she started. Just knows she does it every day.
Anjali texts: "I'm worried about you."
June: "I'm fine."
Anjali: "No you're not."
June doesn't respond.
Her sister texts: "Anjali called me. She's worried. I'm worried. What's going on?"
June: "Nothing. I'm fine."
Sister: "Are you sick?"
June: "No."
Is she? Doesn't know. Coughs more. Feels tired. Doesn't think about it much.
6:47. Roof. Photo. Sky is gray. Or green. Or something. Takes the photo.
Goes downstairs. Makes instant noodles. Eats them. Looks at her phone. Scrolls through sunset photos. All the same. All different. Can't tell.
Next day same thing. Work. Type. Roof. Photo. Cough. Down.
Next day same.
Next day same.
Her phone storage is almost full. All sunset photos. Should delete some. Doesn't.
6:47. Roof. Photo.
Takes it.
