I didn't drop my arms when his anguish quieted; I was in no hurry to let him go. It seemed as though my body had been starving for this from the beginning, but I'd never understood before now what would feed the hunger. The mysterious bond of mother and child-so strong on this planet-was not a mystery to me any longer. There was no bond greater than one that required your life for another's. I'd understood this truth before; what I had not understood was why. Now I knew why a mother would give her life for her child, and this knowledge would forever shape the way I saw the universe.
In the moment of connection between the narrator and the child, she feels a deep emotional fulfillment that she had not recognized before. This bond, which is often described as the mother-child relationship, is something she comes to understand fully. The initial feeling of hunger she experienced now makes sense as she realizes that her very essence is tied to this bond, reflecting the powerful instinctual drive to protect and nurture a child.
Moreover, she reflects on the depth of maternal love, acknowledging that there is an unparalleled strength in the willingness to sacrifice oneself for the sake of another's life. This realization transforms her perception of existence, as she grasps the profound reasons behind a mother's instinct to give everything for her child. This knowledge profoundly alters her worldview, allowing her to appreciate the universe in a new light, shaped by the strength of love and sacrifice.