Talk

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This conversation occurred sometime in January of 2019. Things were starting to change for Daniel too.


"Mom, will Caleb ever talk?"

"No"

"Will he walk?"

"No"

"Will he see?"

"He does. He blinks when we turn on the lights, and a few times he seems to have looked directly at me."

"But I don't think he has seen me. I don't think he has seen Inu."

"He may have. It's hard to know."

"Will he ever learn to say at least one word?"

"Would you like him to say something?" A nod ensues.

"What word would you like him to say?"

"Any!"

"Do you sometimes wish your brother were like any other brother?" Another nod. "Does it make you sad that he isn't?" Another nod.

"I wish the two of you could come and talk to me in the kitchen while I cook... like my brothers and I would when we got home from school. It makes me sad, too, Daniel.

By now, Daniel has stopped talking, and he has lied down in my bed with his face turned away. Is he about to cry? I have never seen him so sad about the fact that he did not get to have a brother with whom he could talk.




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