Fifth Day of the Zenith, 25th of Spring, 525 M.E. (Betelgeuse): “The death of your mother is not comparable to the death of the one you loved: it is the prelude to your death. Because it is the death of the creature that conceived you, carried you in the womb, gifted you life. And your flesh is her flesh, your blood is her blood, your body is an extension of her body: the moment she dies, a part of you or the principle of you dies physically, the umbilical cord to separate you is not cut. 

"To postpone that death which was a prelude to my death, I stayed awake. To keep me awake I kept her awake and talked, talked. I told her . . . I loved life very much. I was so happy to be born, and I thanked her on my knees for giving birth to me."

from The Meaning of Life by Oriana Fallaci