The most important thing had always been what other people thought-appearances before herself or her family. And righteous about it. Time and again Matt had insisted that what others thought about you wasn't the only thing in life. But it did no good. Norma had to dress well; the house had to have fine furniture; Charlie had to be kept inside so that other people wouldn't know anything was wrong.

Why am I always looking at life through a window?

The only question now is: How much can I hang on to?

Holy smoke I reely pulled a Charlie Gordon that time.

Just leave me alone. I'm not myself. I'm falling apart, and I don't want you here.

All the barriers were gone. I had unwound the string she had given me, and found my way out of the labyrinth to where she was waiting. I loved her with more than my body.

I may not have all the time I thought I had...

Because I want to see. I've got to know what's going to happen while I'm still enough in control to be able to do something about it.

You want these back, don't you? You want me out of here so you can come back and take over where you left off. I don't blame you. It's your body and your brain-and your life, even though you weren't able to make much use of it. I don't have the right to take it away from you. Nobody does. Who's to say that my light is better than your darkness? Who's to say death is better than your darkness? Who am I to say?...