“The smell of burning firewood and the molding of organic, earthy substances reminded her of jumping wildly into the enormous leaf piles of autumns past and she suddenly wished that it was appropriate for someone her age to do such a thing.”

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

“She kept public radio on so it sounded like someone was sitting next to her, engaging her in intriguing conversation.”

“This was the place where someone had led her, only she could not remember who and could not remember when. Just that this was where she was now.”

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

“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 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.”