Five am. The baby and David were both crying. Jonathan got up to see to David. Eva listlessly took the baby and began nursing her. She didn't feel any emotion. What was wrong? Normally, no matter how short of sleep, she would feel a surge of warm love at the little face nestling so close to her. The last few days, maybe longer, she had felt … nothing, empty, as if she was holding a strange … STOP THINKING LIKE THIS! Pull yourself together! There's nothing the matter with you. There is something the matter with you, but what? It will pass. I'm short of sleep. I'll go back to sleep if the baby will let me, do breakfast, send David to kindergarten, try to clean up the house, feed the baby, get David from kindergarten … WHAT'S THE POINT? It just goes on and on, I just feel so useless. What's the matter with me? Why is the sun rising? Who needs another day? Why are people so happy? Why can't I feel happy? Why can't I even sleep? I hate this. I hate it. I hate it. Why doesn't it stop? Why? Why?

Jonathan came back wearily. David was dozing uneasily, and he just hoped that Eva and the baby were both peaceful, so that he could get a few minutes' more sleep before the morning rush. […]