“Fear swallowed her, deep and dark as the ocean and she sank into it.”

“Her past was finally speaking to her in a language she understood.”

“She was now on her way to an old world that was nothing but new to her.”

“She smiled, not because she felt confident that she could think of a solution, but for the gratitude that she wasn’t quite so alone in her pursuit.”

“She looked over at her grandmother, smiling in her sleep from what she hoped was a dream about George Bailey and the angel that would eventually save him.”

“Eventually, as her grandmother’s sobs softened, she pulled her away and – looking deeply into the clouds of her grey eyes – lifted her and led her home for the last time.”

“She approached the car with a confident stride that implied she had lived on the block her whole life.”