It wasn’t right, it wasn’t fair.
She felt all hollow and empty inside, like her tummy after being sick, only this wasn’t going away, this was sticking, and she didn’t think she’d ever be able to eat again.
I’m sorry.
Even though it hurt she didn’t dare close her eyes, so she just lay there and stared and didn’t see anything, not even night.
I’m sorry.
It wasn’t fair, and she waited for Pearly to snuggle up next to her and tell her that no, it wasn’t, it ain’t, but no matter how long she stayed awake she never came.
and augh this is where Pearly leaves the story isn't it, at least physically? because their two families split ways in this continent-crossing journey of resettlement? though i get the odd sense that i missed something deeper here. augh. these wonderful short chapters! it's strange how because of the structure it's difficult to be sure exactly what is going on in terms of the events but it feels like i understand the feeling it's trying to convey. the idea of "she never came" just extending on to forever from this point, the pain and loss from it hollowing her out. and she's just a child here, with no control over the decisions made by grown-up that affect her life so deeply, a preview of how the world works as well