None of us have ever asked the men for anything, Agata states. Not a single thing, not even for the salt to be passed, not even for a penny or a moment alone or to take the washing in or to open a curtain or to go easy on the small yearlings or to put your hand on the small of my back as I try, again, for the twelfth or thirteenth time, to push a baby out of my body.
Agata reflects on the silence and lack of requests made to the men in her life, emphasizing how they have never asked for help or support, even in the most basic situations. She highlights how men have not shown even simple gestures of concern or care, such as passing salt or giving a moment of silence, illustrating the deep divide and unspoken tensions in their relationships.
She describes her own ongoing struggle, trying to give birth multiple times without assistance or understanding from the men around her. Her words convey a sense of frustration and isolation, emphasizing the silent endurance of women who often bear these hardships alone, without ever asking for the help that seems to be consistently withheld from them.
