I took her into bed with me and propped myself up with pillows against the headboard to let her nurse. As she nursed and the milk came, she began a little low contented sort of singing. I would feel milk and love flowing from me to her as once it had flowed to me. It emptied me. As the baby fed, I seemed slowly to grow empty of myself, as if in the presence of that long flow of love even grief could not stand.

Summary

This quote describes the intimate bond between a mother and her baby during breastfeeding. The act of nursing creates a powerful connection, as the mother feels a physical and emotional transfer of love and nourishment to her child. The mother's presence and the flow of milk provide a comforting and contented atmosphere, symbolizing a fleeting moment of emptiness of self and the ability to momentarily escape from grief.

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