Lapvona

It was true that the baby was something very valuable. Anyone would be completely hypnotized by its beauty. It was so perfect and small. It would be easy to throw it.

What are you doing to me, Ina?’ he asked.

‘Open up your heart,’ she said.

‘I’m afraid it’s broken.’

‘If I was knocking at your door, would you open it?’

‘I would, of course.’

‘Even if the door was broken.’

‘I would try.’

Better to take his own life than have it taken, he reasoned.

‘If you love that baby more than me,’ he said, ‘I’ll kill myself. Then you’ll be sorry.’

He awoke disappointed that he’d not died in his sleep.

God would bring them together, if not in life, then in death at last.

She had indeed seen death and she was not afraid of it. What scared her were other people and their immovable selfishness.

Pain was good

‘Death is not the end. You shall rise. What are the birds but angels? You will never have to walk among the monsters. It’s much better up there. You’ll see, you’ll see. You will be so happy and free, you’ll sing.’

‘If you love that baby more than me,’ he said, ‘I’ll kill myself. Then you’ll be sorry.’

Agata shrugged again.