Summary

Laura goes on a weekend getaway with her mother outside of the city. She tells her that Alina is going to have a baby and she is overjoyed. Laura’s mother is immensely disappointed that her daughter has had her tubes tied and does not ever plan to have children. She reminds her that although having a child brought an immense, incurable exhaustion, it also brought the purest joy she has ever known in her life.

As Alina approaches the midpoint of her pregnancy, she has barely any time to spend with Laura. Laura throws herself into finishing her thesis and also has little time for socializing. Alina calls her suddenly and tells her that the baby’s brain has not grown at all in the last two months and the doctor is concerned. She is unable to get through the scan without...