Scene 23

POUBELLE wakes and sits up in bed. Her sister is asleep beside her.

POUBELLE

Maman, Papa, you should have seen it before, before we were born. We were nothing, nothing but little bits with cords attaching us as we floated. My sister there, beside me before I knew what it was to have something beside me. Our hands and faces grew. My first handful was of the skin inside Angelique's chest, grabbing at her heart as she floated and bumped. It was so beautiful, Maman, so red, rich, and dark. It was like lying on toast and looking up through the jam… the kind without seeds. Oh, Papa, and we were all there together. Your hands on Maman as we floated inside. Split Lip before she was Split Lip, just Angelique, our mother's blond twin. She was beside me when we got born. She was beside me when you died. She was there when nobody was there; she was there.