Most of all, he saw her waist, just where it narrowed, before the skirts spread. He remembered her nakedness as he knew it, and his hands around that narrowing. He thought of her momentarily as an hourglass, containing time, which was caught in her like a thread of sand, of stone, of specks of life, of things that had lived and would live. She held his time, she contained his past and his future, both now cramped together, with such ferocity and such gentleness, into this small circumference
In this excerpt, the narrator reflects on the physical and emotional dimensions of a woman he deeply admires. He captures the image of her waist, evoking a sense of intimacy and familiarity. This vivid memory links her to his own experiences, highlighting the profound connection they share. He considers her form symbolically, suggesting that she embodies time itself, holding both cherished memories and future possibilities within her essence.
This representation of her as an hourglass symbolizes the complexities of their relationship, where the past and future converge into a singular moment. The interplay of strength and vulnerability in this recollection emphasizes the depth of his feelings for her. This passage beautifully encapsulates the intertwining of human experience and memory, portraying how intimate connections enrich our understanding of time and existence.
