23/04/2026 04:17

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As if life had fallen out of sync. She jerked her gaze to the basementdoor, cursing herself and Fletcher as she pulled her hand out of FatherTom's grasp. The burden of his life these dayswas just too much to deal with. They were old hands at thevigil.

Her fingers tightenedon the clock and tilted the face up to the light. Outside, the only sound was the buzz of thestreet lamps and the cold wind rattling the dry, bare branches ofwinter-dead trees. If I'd been there to pick him up, he would bewith us now. You look like an ice sculpture.