Mna.

[???]

"Oh no! What time is it?"

"It's okay. Go back to sleep."

-- "What happened to that monster? Not that I'd want to meet him again."
-- "Nothing happened to him. That monster was the thing you created in your own mind!"
-- "My mind most certainly did not create anything like that!"
-- "Your fears gave birth to him. And until you overcome those fears, little girl-"
-- "Well, I suppose there are some fears inside me, but please, I really must know how to get back through the mirror."
-- "Well, don't worry."
-- "Why shouldn't I worry?"
-- "Well, there's always another way back! And there's no point in going home until you're not so afraid of not growing up!"
-- "Now wait a minute! I've done a great deal of growing up. And growing down."
-- "When you overcome the great fear in you, then and only then will you be able to stop the frightening appearances of-"

- "Mama! Hi Mama."
- "I was just coming to look for you! Where have you been? And where's-"
- "Your mama told us not to leave the village. She'll definitely be mad if we leave."
- "She'll never ever forgive me."
- "I guess you're right. We'd better keep going. I think-"
- "Her mother must be in a terrible state. Goodbye."
- "Your mother can't be with you anymore."

-- "My shadow, what's the matter with you?"
-- "Boy, why are you crying? Don't get any letters? But your mother gets letters?"
-- "I don't have a mother."
-- "You mustn't touch me!"
-- "But why?"
-- "No one must ever touch me."
-- "Why not?"
-- "I don't know."
-- "No wonder you were crying."
-- "I wasn't crying about that. I can't get my shadow to stick on!"
-- "It's come off? How awful! Oh, you've been trying to stick it on with soap? Well then, I'll have to sew it on for you, my little man."
-- "Thank you."
-- " Now, you sit there. I daresay this'll hurt a little."
-- "I never cry."

- "Now what?"
- "You're not alone. I'm here too. So maybe it's okay."
- "Well,"
- "That's what I like about you. It's always a good thing when I visit. But maybe I should begin at the beginning."

- "Hi. And what we're going to do is we're going to make a loaf of bread. Um, uh a little bit of flour, and mix it with-"

"Greetings from Mount Fuji. Here we sleep fearfully, under screens of mist and sweaty fevers. The timidity of calculated rituals keeps count on moonless nights, until I break awake, as if reborn to her shivers above these snowscapes. I remember the thick umbilical cord connecting him to her, to ocean tides through rivers, growing melting droplets that echo, metal sharp, pangs of melancholy and acceptance as she again pulls the blood from [?]."

"In each other's arms, do you remember?"