Because horror on Earth is real and it is every day. It is like a flower or like the sun; it cannot be contained.

Those who say they would rather fight to the death than be raped are fools. I would rather be raped a thousand times. You do what you have to.

Each time I told my story, I lost a bit, the smallest drop of pain.

And in a small house five miles away was a man who held my mud-encrusted charm bracelet out to his wife. Look what I found at the old industrial park," he said. "A construction guy said they were bulldozing the whole lot. They're afraid of sink holes like that one that swallowed the cars." His wife poured him some water from the sink as he fingered the tiny bike and the ballet shoe, the flower basket and the thimble. He held out the muddy bracelet as she set down his glass. This little girl's grown up by now," she said. Almost. Not quite. I wish you all a long and happy life.

As she stood in the darkened room and watched my sister and father, I knew one of things that heaven meant. I had a choice, and it was not to divide my family in my heart.

He took the hat from my mouth. ''Tell me you love me'', he said. Gently I did. The end came anyway

but, he also said it because part of him wanted more of her, this cold woman who was not exactly cold, this rock who was not stone.