You smiled then, and your whole face changed with it. It kind of lit up, like there were sunbeams coming from inside you.

But what else can I do, other than to plead with you like this? Other than to write down my story, our story, to show you that what you've done . . . to make you realize that what you did wasn't fair, wasn't right.

People love what they're used to, I guess." "No." You shook your head. "People should love what needs loving. That way they can save it.

I want you to see that the person I glimpsed running beside the camel, running to save my life, is the person you can choose to be.

It was like I existed in a kind of parallel universe, thinking thoughts and feelings that no one else understood.

I was surprised at her gentleness, her willingness to give in.

In a moment, when I'm ready, I will turn off this computer and that will be it. This letter will be finished. A part of me doesn't want to stop writing to you, but I need to. For both of us.