In four of the five beds in the room sat recently delivered mothers with their babies. They all greeted her pleasantly when she was placed in a bed next to the window, but she immediately rolled over on her side. The window had blue-and-white striped curtains. A small border had come off the bottom of one of them. Looking out meant that she didn’t have to see them, but she couldn’t keep out the sounds.Initially, no one asked her anything. They were all preoccupied with minding their own new-born babies.She had been longing to sleep on her front, but it was still impossible. Her belly was still really big, even though it was empty. She could sense its sudden emptiness. Her breasts were aching.They came to see her after about an hour. First, they got her to sit up, then stand and walk. Walking hurt. She could feel the tense pain from the stitches they’d used to sew her up with. Or at least, that’s what they said it was.Next, she was to speak with the doctor. She decided to stand instead of accepting his offer of a chair.
