"I couldn't tell Luke. How could I tell him I hadn't been keeping proper watch over his mum?" He hadn't told Maria, either, though she had pushed harder than Luke.

Taking a breath... oh, even breathing was painful now... He opened his eyes and nearly flinched back as a flash of color passed bare inches in front of them.

"I've already started my life over. I can't do it. Some of them... they think I could carry on without her, continue her work... I know it goes on, they didn't have to point that out!"