“I love you baby,” I whispered to Nem, my cheek next to hers, while she was sound asleep at midnight. She stirred in a struggle to emerge from sleep, and didn’t manage to wake up, but said in her sleep despite sleep retaking her: “I . . . love you . . . too . . .”
That’s what she’ll fight through a barrier to say. This is that sweetest fruit of the tree of life.