a guardian ad litem... GAL is appointed by a court to be a child's advocate during legal proceedings that involve a minor. You don't have to be a lawyer to be trained as a GAL, but you have to have a moral compass and a heart. Which, actually probably renders most lawyers unqualified for the job.

I once heard someone on a bus say that this guy had gotten under her skin. And it struck me as a remarkable thought - that someone would affect you so deeply they'd always be a part of you.

I imagine having that sixth sense, the certainty that what I'm looking for is within reach, even if it's still hidden.

Torn between fear and something that resembled love, she wrestled with questions she never dreamed she would face: How could she leave? Then again, how could she stay?

She understood how a world jammed with phones, email, and faxes could still leave you feeling utterly alone.

We all want to know what went wrong, even when there isn't really an answer to that question.

If words had flavors, hers would be bitter almonds and coffee grounds.