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 the challenges and losses that accompany existence.
This transformation is illustrated in her smile, which, though still bright, now carries a hint of fear, indicating her growing awareness of life's difficulties. The author notes that she has started to perceive the toll of merely being present in the world, recognizing the sacrifices one must make, symbolized by the "extortionary rent" required for participation in life. This poignant shift from innocence to awareness highlights the bittersweet nature of growing up.
