I can
manage Rachel for a few hours。〃
Despite the little girl's protest； Anne left。 It was the first time she
had been alone since they had arrived； and she needed it badly。 She was
feeling frayed at the seams； but there were still two days left in the
week。 She had to find a way of surviving。
Spring was everywhere。 What had been damp and gray a month before was
now a fresh； vibrant green。 The scent was of rebirth； spreading upward
from the lush carpet of new grass and through the lime leaves that
clothed long tree branches。 The sounds were enchanting ones…the chirping
of birds from nest to nest； the rustle of forest creatures in the newly
spreading undergrowth。 Water ran freely over rocks and silt； rushing
with the force of the snows that melted higher up the mountain。 The
pasture glowed yellow with dandelions and pink with crab apple blossoms。
It was the countryside at its gayest and most promising。
Not so her heart。 Its sadness was all the more poignant by contrast。
Pebbles scattered before her shuffling feet。 She kicked a boulder or
two。 When she finally buried her head on her arms； the tears flowed as
fast and free as the brook beside her。 But while the brook's course was
one of liberation； Anne's was the opposite。 She was in an emotional
prison。 Loving Mitch did that。
In time； she knelt on the stones and splashed her face。 T