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EPILOGUE

TWO YEARS LATER

A single lightbulb hung fro every ten seconds or so Somehow, it seemed to represent what the world had beco on

The wo desperately not to cry

She’d known the knock was co for her son Make the boy think that the new life that awaited hi When her son--her only child--was gone, then she’d let it out Then she’d cry a river’s worth until the et

The boy sat next to her, quiet Un Only a child, and yet it seemed he understood that his life would never be the sah the woman assumed its contents would be discarded before her son reached his final destination And so they waited

Their visitors tapped the door three tier behind it, or force Just tap, tap, tap, like the gentle pecking of a bird

"Come in," she said, so loud it startled her Nerves She was on the edge

The door opened Two men and one woman stepped inside the small apart their e

"I can see you’re ready," she said, her voice muffled, as she walked forward and stood before the woness to make such a sacrifice I don’t need to tell you how enerations We’re on the cusp of a very great thing We will find the cure, ive you my word"

The woman could only nod If she tried to speak, it would all coer Her tears And then her efforts to be strong for the boy would have been for naught So she kept it in, a da river

The lady was all business "Co a hand

The boy looked up at his mother He had no reason to hold back the tears, and he didn’t They flowed down his face freely He ju her heart ato do great things for this world," she whispered, so to make me so proud I love you, sweet boy I love you so et it"

His only response was to sob into her shoulder And that said everything

Finally it had to end

"I’m very sorry," the lady in the dark suit and ht schedule Truly, I’m sorry"

"Go on now," the mother said to her son "Go on, and be brave"

He pulled back, his face wet, his eyes red A strength see her believe he’d be okay in the end He was strong, this one

The boy turned away, never to look at her again He walked to the door and went through it with no hesitation No glance back, no co lady said She followed the boy out

One of the htbulb, then turned to his partner "You knoho invented those things, right? Maybe we should call this one Thomas" And then they left

When the door closed, the woman curled up into a ball and finally let her tears come