“At 10:30 she slipped off the couch and walked into the bedroom. She curled up on her pallet, clutching the white rag toy. I followed and covered her lightly with a soft towel. She blinked once at me, then drifted into sleep.”

“The light grew brighter, almost nudging him to think deeper. Long-buried memories surfaced. He recalled . . . ”

“Molly gazed into his eyes, the eyes of an old man who had made a mistake. In her very soft voice and with a gentle smile she said…”