"Guess so," Effy said, quickly reverting to a levity born out of necessity, because thinking on efforts her mother made and what drove her to finally do so was... pointless. She wasn't on the island. Chances were she wouldn't be, because parents seemed so rare to arrive. Chances were she wouldn't be, because whenever Tony was in her life and in control, no one else mattered at all, and some part of Effy truly believed that the island listened to wishes.

Didn't always grant them. Sometimes stomped right over them.

But it was aware.

"Doesn't fucking matter. She didn't know how to be a mum, but... not her fault. How do you know before it happens? I figure I'll never have kids. I'd just fuck them up."