Before and after the fire. One day I was breakfasting on watermelon, feta and pomegranate seeds, the next I was eating toasted Mother's Pride smeared with margarine. That's the story Mummy told me, at any rate.
The quote highlights a stark contrast in the narrator's life before and after a significant traumatic event, likely a fire. Initially, the protagonist enjoys healthy and vibrant meals, which reflect a sense of comfort and stability. However, this idyllic scenario is shattered, replaced by a mundane and less appealing diet, symbolizing a decline in quality of life and emotional well-being.
This shift serves as a poignant metaphor for how trauma can disrupt one's existence, moving from moments of joy to times filled with hardship and struggle. The mention of the mother’s narrative suggests a layer of familial influence and perception in how the aftermath of such an event is processed, emphasizing the complexities of coping with change.
