Anna’s Reviews > The Names > Status Update

“Maia smiles, thinking of her little brother. Remembering how she’s always been in the shadow of his exuberance, his ability to make things special, but how that’s been her privilege.”

“Unaware, too, of what it is to have that person in your life, that person who will plan surprises, who will try to fix wings to your back.”

“Would you lay down your life for your child? the world silently asks. Yes, she’s done this. But she hadn’t known there would be a second reckoning, where this would eventually mean laying down the arms of motherhood: caution, foreseeing, checking, reminding, nurturing, openly caring. Because a switch has been tripped, and rather than keeping the child safe, if left in sight, her love might implode.”

“I can still remember it. That feeling of being read to, of being wrapped up in her voice, those words, whatever place the story had taken us to.”