For the first time, the enormity of her loneliness overwhelmed her, and she clenched her fists against her eyes, shuddering, and wept without tears. Useless and lonely, lonely, lonely … dulled with uselessness and habit, waiting without anticipation. When she looked down again, the couple on the beach were arguing, standing face to face in the awkward, stubborn postures of people who are shouting at each other.
