For Alina, giving birth had turned out to be the cosmic jape. She thought to herself, this isn’t right. This wedge of flesh is bigger than I am or will be or ever was. This is absurdity. There are hard bones bowing out from his legs, a skull big as a beach ball, and he’s got those horse teeth peeking through when he smiles at me during supper. I don’t even like this person. This could not have come from me.