Page 29 (1/2)

Speechless, she stared up ather cheeks "Tell him I'll come soontell him that," she whispered hoarsely

We told him that

He kept his eyes closed, his lips glued together There ays of telling he wasn't asleep, only shutting us out

Jory refused to eat until tubes were put in his ar days that were full and ave ave me hope

If only, if only were the words that started off hts If only I could live ain, then, perhaps, I could save Jory, Chris, Cindy, Melodie, myself--and even Bart If only

If only he hadn't danced that role--

I tried everything, as Chris and Cindy did, to pull Jory back from that terribly lonely place where he'd taken himself For the first time in my life I couldn't reach him, couldn't ease his sorrow

He'd lost what mattered most to h

is he'd soon lose his wonderfully powerful and skilled body I couldn't look at those beautifully shaped strong legs lying so still beneath the sheet, so damned useless

Had the grandht when she said ere cursed, born for failure and pain? Had she prograedy to steal the fruit of our successes?

Had Chris and I achieved anything of real value when our son lay as if dead, and our second son refused to visit Jory but once?

Bart had stood and stared down at Jory lying helpless and still with his eyes closed, his arht down at his sides "Oh, my God," he'd whispered before he hurried from the tiny room

Never could I convince hiain "Mother, he doesn't know I'ood? I can't bear to see him like that I'm sorry, really sorrybut I can't help"

I stared at hi if I had wanted to help him so much I'd risked the life of my beloved Jory

That's when I began to tellto believe he'd never walk, never dance again This was a nightmare to be endured, but eventually we'd awaken and Jory would be whole again, just as he'd been