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No, no, no I clung to hi and anything toin there Don't give up and lose the greatest challenge of your life You have me and you have Chris and sooner or later Melodie will coain"

Bleakly he stared atbut smoke

"Go sleep in your own roo here I proain"

"Darling, be sure and ring for your father orup Don't call for Melodie, for she ht trip and fall in the dark now that she's kind of unsteady on her feet I've always been a light sleeper, and it's easy for , Jory?"

"Sure, I'," he said with his eyes blank and re"

"And soon the physical therapist will come to start you on the road to recovery"

"Recovery, Mom?" His eyes looked tired, very shadowed and dark "Youforward to using that thing The leg braces are going to be a real joy to wear

Isn't it fortunate I won't feel the to mention that harness contraption that will make me think of myself as a horse I'll just think it will keep" He paused, covered his face with his hands briefly, threw back his head and sighed "Lord, givetoo ood job of bringing me low"

His hands came down Tears shone in his eyes, streaked his cheeks In a"Sorry about that, Mom Tears of self-pity aren't veryall

the time Got my moments of weakness just like everyone else Go back to your roorief I'll see this thing through to the end Good night Say good night to Melodie for me when she comes in"

I cried in Chris's ar him to ask a thousand questions that I refused to answer Frustrated and ry, he flipped away "You can't foolit will add another burden, when not to knohat's going on is the heaviest of all burdens!"

He waited for me to reply When I didn't, he quickly fell asleep on his side He had theable to sleep when I couldn't I wanted hi me to answer the questions I'd just avoided But he slept on and on, turning to e his face in my hair

Every hour I was up and checking to see if Bart had brought Melodie hoht Jory lay on his bed with his eyes wide open, apparently waiting, as I did, for Melodie to come home

"Has the phantom pain eased up?"

"Yes, go back to bed I'm fine"