"Mother explains a story from Tolstoy about a man wrongly imprisoned for a murder who spends years in Siberia. When he finally meets the real murderer, he chooses not to reveal the truth, dying with his longing for home," I ask. "Each of us must face our own Siberia," she replies, emphasizing inner struggles. "My cancer is my Siberia."
Suddenly, two white finch-like birds land on the snow nearby, symbolizing hope or reflection in her metaphor. The story reflects on personal isolation and acceptance, suggesting that, like the characters, each individual must find peace within their own hardships."