She spoke to me less and less, and the words she did say were sporadic and scattered, like islands. Then she stopped saying even yes or no in response, and with that her desires and requests seemed to vanish too. Still, when I placed a peeled mandarin in her hand, she would split it and give me back the bigger half out of lifelong habit, and smile. At which my heart would fall open. I remember wondering if I’d feel that way too toward my child, if I were to have a child.
