“Some of us -" She paused as she sought the words. " - don't die unless we want to. The selfish ones never do.”

“Some of us -" She paused as she sought the words. " - don't die unless we want to. The selfish ones never do.”

“It was still late summer elsewhere, but here, high in Appalachia, fall was coming; for the last three mornings, she'd been able to see her breath. The woods, which started twenty feet back from her backdoor like a solid wall, showed only hints of the impending autumn. A few leaves near the treetops had turned, but most were full and green. Visible in the distance, the Widow's Tree towered above the forest. Its leaves were the most stubborn, tenaciously holding on sometimes until spring if the winter was mild. It was a transitional period, when the world changed its cycle and opened a window during which people might also change, if they had the inclination.”

“Some of us -" She paused as she sought the words. " - don't die unless we want to. The selfish ones never do.”

“The pain of your loss will return. Less, but still considerable. I know you've worked hard to release it, but it can still take hold of you. I will help you sing away the fury, but I will not bear it for you.”