She is nine, beloved, as open-faced as the sky and as self-contained. I have watched her grow. As recently as three or four years ago, she had a young child's perfectly shallow receptiveness; she fitted into the world of time, it fitted into her, as thoughtlessly as sky fits its edges, or a river its banks. But as she has grown, her smile has widened with a touch of fear and her glance has taken on depth. Now she is aware of some of the losses you incur by being here--the extortionary rent you have to pay as long as you stay.
The author reflects on a nine-year-old girl, depicting her as both beloved and open-hearted, yet gradually becoming more aware of the complexities of life. In her earlier years, the girl embodied a carefree innocence, easily fitting into the world around her, much like the seamless connection between the sky and its boundaries or a river and its banks. However, as time has passed, her innocence has evolved into a consciousness of...
