. . .

Emily’s too young to understand that there are unfinished structures in her mind, not really, or that a heart can ever sleep; too young to understand that words exist for the things she’s feeling, beyond, of course, “Mommy! Mommy! Jaguar” or “love.”

So her mother doesn’t get it; and Emily doesn’t explain.

“Don’t you think it’s awful how it’s on fire?” her mother asks her. “But apparently no one can put it out.”

<< . . .

. . . >>