I Took Too Long to Reply to My Child

Dear Delyara, My name came from upstairs in that familiar tone children use when they need you immediately and completely believe that of course you still exist in the exact shape they require. And for one second, before answering, I felt resistance. Then guilt. Then I answered. That tiny gap told the truth of the evening better than anything else did. I was not cruel. I was saturated. I wish more women said that word plainly. Saturated. Because it explains so much without making us sound heartless.