Kathryn settled in at the back of the darkened auditorium. The lecture was already underway. She now audited “Japanese Art and Culture” during the break between her last morning class and afternoon conferences with her freshman English students. Eight weeks ago, she found refuge here rather than face her colleagues in the English Department lounge where she usually lunched. She had rushed outside, unsure where to go. A sudden downpour caused her to flee into the small auditorium annexed to the art building. She took a seat, tried to sort herself out. That was the day Paul told her he was leaving. Leaving for an interim professorship in Dublin. And leaving her, their marriage.

The subject of today’s lecture was the plum blossom; how it originated in China, later went to Japan, and its symbolism in both cultures, its place in art and literature. On a giant screen, she viewed examples of the plum blossom in paintings and in haiku, its elegance belying its toughness through cold and difficult times.  Professor Adams closed as usual with several minutes of inspiration. Images of the lovely blossoms, one melting into another, accompanied by a melody both wistful and steadfast. Kathryn watched as plum blossoms appeared against a clear blue sky, in a mist, mounded with snow. She saw single white flowers with fairy-dot stamens, pink fringed parasols, deep red sprays bursting from withered branches; some that arched or “wept” and some reaching out and upward. The repetitious melody carried her along in the same way as a piece she used to play, “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.” Now she understood why it had always given her such reassurance. The sense of circularity, that life continues.

The lights came on and students gathered their things and began to leave; many, hurrying to the next class. Kathryn could have stayed longer with the plum blossoms – and centuries of ennobling lessons in humility and perseverance, in spring’s sprightly clothes. But she had a schedule too. Students with term paper topics; hopeful, wondering. Some struggling. She’d get them through.