“You can stay for tea.”
He looked surprised.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
They sat at the kitchen table.
For a while they talked about ordinary things.
Then Emily asked, “Do you still miss her?”
Mark knew immediately who she meant.
“Madison?”
“Yes.”
He considered the question carefully.
“I miss parts of who I thought I was around her.”
Emily nodded.
“I understand that.”
“You do?”
“I miss parts of who I was before the pregnancy.”
Mark looked at her.
Emily continued.
“I miss being able to leave the house with one small purse.”
He laughed.
“I remember purses.”
“I miss sleeping until nine.”
“Legend says people used to do that.”
She smiled.
Then grew serious again.
“Missing an old version of yourself doesn’t mean you’re supposed to go backward.”
“No.”
Mark looked toward the hallway.
“I think that’s what I didn’t understand.”
Emily studied him.
“What do you want now?”
