It's wonderful to hear his voice, even if she can't depend on having any sort of a conversation with him. His interventions tend to be one-sided: if she answers him, he doesn't often answer back. But it was always more or less like that between them.
In "Stone Mattress: Nine Tales" by Margaret Atwood, the dynamic between the characters reflects a profound yet imbalanced connection. The speaker finds joy in hearing his voice, even though she recognizes that their interactions lack depth and reciprocity. Conversations feel predominantly one-sided, with her responses often going unanswered, highlighting a sense of emotional detachment.
This experience underscores the complexity of their relationship, where moments of connection coexist with feelings of isolation....
