Page 128 of Samson

“You guess?”

“Death is so final. It’s not what I wanted.”

“It’s not?”

She shook her head. “I wanted Demir to know I forgave him.”

“Why would you do something like that? The man’s a murderer.”

“I don’t know that I could explain it to you in any meaningful way.”

“You sound like you’ve gone all religious.”

“Religious isn’t the word I’d use, but yes, I’ve found my way back to God.”

“Wait, what? You—what do you mean ‘back to.’ You say that like you’ve been there before.”

“Remember when we were kids, and we went to church with the neighbor and her kids?”

“I remember you kept going back until they moved away. I only went once. It was so boring. So you’re saying you had some sort of religious experience when you went?”

“Yeah.”

“But you were a kid.”

“Yeah. I don’t think God minds how old you are.”

“Whatever makes you feel good, I guess.”

She wanted to tell him more but knew he wasn’t in the right place to hear it. She could pray for him, and maybe God would make an opportunity.

“All I’ll say is that forgiving Demir was the best thing for me. It’s the only way I can move on.”

“I certainly won’t give you a hard time for that. You think you can really move on?”

“I do.”

“And you still want to leave the hospital?”

“Yes. But I will take you up on your offer to stay with you. At least for a night or two. I don’t know how I’d manage on my own right now.”

“Good.”

“Oh.” She stopped.

“What?”

“I just realized I wrecked your car.”

“Already taken care of.”

“How’d you get a new car already?”

“I don’t. I have a rental. Picked it up on my way here.”

“Oh good. I wasn’t looking forward to the bus.”

“I thought you’d feel right at home.”

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