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And Life Goes On

Francisco Candido Xavier

By the Spirit

Andre Luiz

Copyright © 2009 by

BRAZILIAN SPIRITIST FEDERATION

Av. L 2 Norte – Q. 603 – Conjunto F (SGAN)

70830-030 – Brasilia (DF) – Brazil

ISBN: 978-85-7945-004-4

Original title in Portuguese:

E A VIDA CONTINUA…

Brazil, 1968

Translated by: Darrel W. Kimble and Ily Reis

Cover design by: Luciano Carneiro Holanda

Layout: Ingrid Saori Furuta

Photo: www.sxc.hu/claudmey

Edition of

SGAN Q. 909 – Conjunto F

70790-090 – Brasilia (DF) – Brazil

www.edicei.com

edicei@edicei.com

+55 61 3038-8400

Sales: + 55 61 3038 8425

Second Edition 8/2011

L979a Luiz, André (Spirit)

And Life Goes On / by the Spirit Andre Luiz ; [received by] Francisco

Cândido Xavier ; [translated by Darrel W. Kimble and Ily Reis]. - Brasilia,

DF (Brazil) : International Spiritist Council, 2011.

240 p. ; 21 cm

Translated from: E a Vida Continua…

ISBN 978-85-7945-004-4

1. Spiritist Novel. 2. Spiritism. 3. Psychographic Works. I. Xavier,

Francisco Cândido, 1910-2002. II. International Spiritist Council. III. Title.

IV. Series.

CDD: 133.93

CDU: 133.7

INTERNATIONAL DATA FOR CATALOGING IN PUBLICATION (ICP)

Contents

And life goes on... .................................................................. 7

In Homage ............................................................................. 9

1. An Unexpected Meeting ................................................... 11

2. At the Door to a Close Friendship .................................... 17

3. A Friendly Adjustment ..................................................... 23

4. Renewal ........................................................................... 29

5. Reunion ........................................................................... 37

6. Fraternal Understanding ................................................... 45

7. Alzira Provides Information .............................................. 53

8. An Instructive Meeting ..................................................... 59

9. Brother Claudio ............................................................... 67

10. Evelina Serpa .................................................................. 75

11. Ernesto Fantini ............................................................... 83

12. Judgment and Love ........................................................ 91

13. New Tasks ...................................................................... 99

14. New Directions ............................................................ 109

15. Time for Analysis ......................................................... 119

16. Renewal Efforts ............................................................ 127

17. Matters of the Heart ..................................................... 135

18. The Return ................................................................... 143

19. Revisions of Life ........................................................... 153

20. The Plot Revealed ........................................................ 163

21. Return to the Past......................................................... 173

22. Bases for a New Future ................................................. 183

23. Ernesto at Work ........................................................... 193

24. Evelina at Work ............................................................ 205

25. A New Direction .......................................................... 217

26. And Life Goes On ... .................................................... 225

7

And life goes on...

Andre Luiz

8

EMMANUEL

9

In Homage

Andre Luiz

Andre Luiz

10

11

1

An Unexpected Meeting

The wind was playing with the dry leaves when Evelina

Serpa – Mrs. Serpa – decided to sit on a bench that seemed to be

inviting her to rest.

The garden-decorated square was quiet in the silence of

the warm afternoon.

during that second week of October, and among them was Mrs.

Serpa, accompanied by an assistant who had remained behind in

the hotel room.

Feeling a craving to be alone, Mrs. Serpa had escaped the

bustle of domestic life.

She had wanted to think things over. And that is why she was

now hiding beneath the green canopy, gazing at the rows of blooming

azaleas that took pride in announcing that spring had come.

1 Poços de Caldas, as recalled by characters in chapter 6. It is a resort city located in the

Brazilian state of Minas Gerais in southeastern Brazil. Known principally for its thermal

baths, it is situated on a stream called Poços de Caldas, near the Pardo River. From

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/465714/Pocos-de-Caldas – Tr.

Andre Luiz

12

Nestled amid the dense foliage, she gave wing to her

thoughts...

The family doctor had recommended that she rest to build

up her strength before surgery. As she weighed the advantages

and risks of the operation, she allowed the memories of her short

life to pass through her mind.

She had gotten married six years ago.

At first, everything had been a golden boat ride on

waves of blue. A husband and happiness. In their second year

of marriage came the pregnancy they had lovingly hoped for;

however, along with the pregnancy the disease had appeared.

Her body was found to be failing. Her kidneys were incapable

of handling any overload and her heart was like an engine

about to sputter and quit. Her gynecologist had suggested

a therapeutic abortion, and despite the couple’s enormous

sorrow, the fetus was plucked from the maternal cloister like a

baby bird kicked from the nest.

Since then, the journey of her life had become a pathway

of tears. Caio, her husband, had metamorphosed into a

courteous friend who no longer had any romantic interest in

her. He had easily fallen under the spell of another: a young,

single woman, whose intelligence and vivaciousness Evelina

could deduce from the notes he forgot about in his pockets, and

which were filled with passionate words and kisses imprinted

on the paper by her red lipstick.

The loneliness and disenchantment she endured at

home were perhaps the factors that unleashed the dreadful

bouts of overwhelming heaviness she periodically felt in her

chest. On such occasions she experienced nausea, excruciating

headaches, an overall cold feeling, a burning sensation in her

hands and feet, and a noticeable rise in blood pressure. At the

height of her agony, she thought she was about to die. Soon

And Life Goes On

13

thereafter, however, she would recover, only to fall into the

same critical condition a few days later when the setbacks

with her husband were repeated.

Her energy had deteriorated, her strength was waning...

For more than two years she had gone from doctor to

doctor, from specialist to specialist.

The unanimous diagnosis had finally arrived. Only a risky

surgical procedure might possibly restore her health.

Deep down, something was telling her intuitively that this

physical problem was very serious indeed and could perhaps lead

to her death.

Who really knew for sure? she asked herself.

She could hear the chirping sparrows, whose voices

provided background music for her thoughts, and she began

evaluating her life in terms of aspirations and failures.

Was it really worth it to avoid the dangerous surgery

only to continue as a sick woman living with a man who had

disregarded his marital vows? And wasn’t it reasonable to accept

the aid that medical science might offer her so that she could

recover her health and fight for a new life in case her husband

deserted her completely? She was only twenty-six years old. Wasn’t

it right for her to wait for new routes to happiness in the fields

of time? Although she missed her father tremendously – he had

discarnated when she was still a very small child – she had been

brought up as an only child by her loving, devoted mother, who

in turn had provided her with a kind and caring stepfather. These

two, along with her husband, were her entire family back home.

Immersed in the soft breezes of the sunset, she thought

of her loved ones: her husband, her dear mother and her

stepfather far away.

Suddenly, she remembered her deceased father and her

baby that had been taken before being born. She was religious, a

Andre Luiz

14

practicing Roman Catholic, and as for life after death, she held

to the ideas that were fundamental to her faith.

Where might her father and child be right now? she

wondered. If she were to die because of her disease, would

she see them again? If so, where? Wasn’t it reasonable to think

about this since the idea of death was constantly on her mind?

She was deeply immersed in this inner monologue

when somebody appeared in front of her. It was an older

gentleman, whose friendly smile immediately piqued her

interest and curiosity.

“Mrs. Serpa?” he asked respectfully.

As she nodded in startled confirmation, he added:

“Please forgive me for being so bold, but I heard that

you live in Sao Paulo. So do I. Through highly unexpected

circumstances, a friend told me that you and I both have the

same health problem.”

“I would love to hear about it,” said the young woman,

noticing his embarrassment.

In response to the kindness in her voice, he introduced

himself:

“Nothing to be alarmed about, Mrs. Serpa; Ernesto

Fantini, at your service.”

“Pleased to meet you,” said Evelina, and gazing at that

wrinkled, disease-stricken face, she added: “Sit down and rest.

Here we are in this huge square, and apparently we’re the only ones

presently interested in the refreshing atmosphere it has to offer.”

Encouraged by her friendliness, Fantini sat down next

to her and continued to speak, engaging in a dialog guided by

mutual attraction.

“The owner of the hotel where we’re staying made friends

with your assistant. I found out through her that you too are

facing a difficult surgery.”

And Life Goes On

15

“Too?”

“Yes, because I myself am in the same situation.”

“Oh?”

“My blood pressure is out of sync and my whole body is

out of whack. I have been seeing specialists for over three years

now. Finally, the X-Rays’ verdict: I have an adrenal gland tumor.

I suspect it’s quite serious.”

“I see,” replied Evelina hesitatingly, looking very pale; “I

know just what you mean ... You don’t have to tell me. Every

so often you must experience the same symptoms: your chest

tightens; your heartbeat goes crazy; your head and stomach hurt;

the veins in your neck pop out; you feel cold and hot at the same

time, and death seems to be at the door.”

“Exactly.”

“Then, you feel better for a while, only to have it start all

over again the next time you get upset.”

“You know what it’s like.”

“Unfortunately.”

“The doctor told me the name of my disease a number of

times. What about yours?”

Fantini took a tiny notebook from his pocket and read

aloud the exact word that defined his health problem.

Mrs. Serpa could barely disguise her discomfort on

hearing that scientific term, but getting a hold of herself,

she confirmed:

“Yes, speaking for my doctor, my husband told me that’s

what I have.”

The newcomer realized how troubled Evelina was and

tried to be humorous:

“Well, at least we have a disease with a rare and pretty name.”

“Which doesn’t mean we don’t suffer frequent and ugly

symptoms,” she replied charmingly.

Andre Luiz

16

Fantini looked up at the blue afternoon sky as if he wanted

to take the conversation to the next level. Evelina followed his

pause in emotion-filled silence, showing that she too felt like

lifting the conversation above the suffering and that she was

eager to reflect and philosophize.

17

2

At the Door to a

Close Friendship

Soon thereafter, a small carriage came into sight, moving

very, very slowly.

As he watched the horse gradually drawing nearer, the

gentleman asked Evelina:

“I know you need to rest, but if you would accept my

invitation for a trip around the thermal springs...”

“Thank you,” she responded, “but I can’t; for now, rest is

the best medicine.”

“True. Our case doesn’t allow for any bumps on the road.”

The small carriage passed by very close to the quiet nook.

Both of them saw why it was moving so slowly. It had evidently

been in an accident and displayed a broken wheel as it moved along

with difficulty. Meanwhile, the young coachman was on foot guiding

the animal with great care, leaving it almost rein-free.

Andre Luiz

18

Mrs. Serpa and her new friend followed them with their

gaze until they disappeared around the next corner.

Fantini smiled broadly and said calmly:

“Mrs. Serpa...”

She cut him short with another open smile and corrected

him in a friendly tone:

“Call me Evelina. I believe that since we both share a rare

disease, we have the right to a casual friendship.”

“Fine with me!” said Fantini and he added, “And from

now on, I shall be just Ernesto to you.”

He rested his pale hand on the back of the large bench and

continued:

spiritualism?”

“No.”

“Well, I would like to tell you that that carriage reminded

me of some notes I took yesterday while I was studying. The

interesting writer I’ve been reading, though using a definition

that he himself considers superficial, understands the human

being to be three-fold, much like the carriage, the horse and the

coachman, the three of them working together.”

“How could that be?” asked Evelina accentuating her

surprise and looking at him jokingly.

“The carriage would correspond to the physical body; the

animal may be compared to the spiritual body, that is, the molder

and sustainer of the phenomena that ensure our physical life; and

the coachman symbolizes our spirit, that is, our true self in the

mental governance of our life. A damaged ‘carriage’, like the one

we just saw, would represent a sick body, and when the vehicle

becomes completely useless, the driver abandons it to the scrap

name. – Tr.

And Life Goes On

19

heap of nature and climbs back up on the horse so that both of

them may continue the journey ... This, of course, happens at death

or discarnation. Now useless, the physical body is returned to the

ground, whereas our spirit, clothed in the envelope of subtle matter

that conditions its earthly existence, then begins to live on another

plane, where the garment of denser matter is no longer useful.”

Evelina laughed, though with all due respect for the

speaker, and argued:

“A clever theory! You talk about death, but what happens

to this trio while we are asleep?”

“For good reasons, during physical sleep the three elements

take a rest that varies from driver to driver, or rather, from spirit

to spirit. When we sleep, the heavy vehicle or physical body

always rests, but the spirit behaves much, much differently. For

instance, after the driver and the horse have had a heavy meal,

both of them will rest, and consequently, so will the carriage. On

the other hand, if the coachman is in the habit of studying and

serving, then while the carriage is in the shop for repairs or an

overhaul, he uses the horse for instructive trips or worthwhile

tasks. At other times, if the driver is still quite unskilled,

inexperienced or fearful of the trip, then whenever the carriage

needs repairs, he will probably hang around somewhere near the

repair shop, waiting for the carriage to be fixed in order to take

it up again, much like armor for self-defense.”

Evelina showed disbelief and objected:

“I don’t know a thing about spiritualism.”

“Do you profess any religion in particular?”

“Yes, I’m Catholic. I’m not a fanatic, but I try very hard

to live according to the principles of my faith. I believe in our

priests’ teachings and practice them.”

“Good for you. All sincere beliefs are to be respected. I

envy your absolute trust.”

Andre Luiz

20

“You’re not religious?”

“I wish I was. I’m just a searcher for the truth, a free shooter

in the field of ideas.”

“And you’ve been reading about spiritualism just to

entertain yourself?”

“To entertain myself? Oh, no! I read about it because

I have to. Have you forgotten, Dona Evelina? We’re about to

undergo a surgery that could be fatal ... We might be packing

“From which nobody returns.”

“Who knows?”

“I get it,” smiled the young woman. “You study spiritualism

like a traveler who wants to learn about the currency, language,

customs and fashion of the foreign country he intends to visit.

Concise information, a quick course.”

“I admit it. I’ve had a lot of time on my hands lately, and I’m

using it as best I can in everything that relates to the knowledge

of the soul, especially life after death and communication with

spirits, the supposed inhabitants of other spheres.”

“And have you found any proof of such communication?

Have you had any direct messages from any of your dead

loved ones?”

“Not yet.”

“Isn’t that discouraging?”

“Not at all!”

“Well, I prefer my serene beliefs. Trust without doubt,

prayer without mental torment.”

“Your inner faith is a blessing and I sincerely respect your

religious contentment; but what if there is another life waiting

for us and what if questions do arise in your soul?”

“How can you say that if you haven’t yet gotten the

confirmation that we do go on living?”

And Life Goes On

21

“I cannot doubt the testimonies of the scholars and people

of irreproachable character who have confirmed it.”

“Well,” said Evelina good-naturedly, “you shall be with

your researchers and I with my saints.”

“I have no objections about the excellence of your

advocates,” replied Fantini in the same tone, “but I cannot

stop my thirst for knowledge. Before I got this disease, I was

extremely confident about life. I was in charge and didn’t have

the faintest idea about the existence of this or that organ in my

body. However, a tumor in the adrenal glands is nothing to

sneeze at. It is a sort of ghost announcing difficulties and forcing

me to think, reason, discover.”

“Are you afraid of dying?” joked the young woman.

“Not really; are you?”

“Well, I don’t want to die. I have parents, a husband and

friends. I love life but...”

“But...?”

“If God has determined that my time is up, I’ll resign

myself to it.”

“Don’t you have any other problems?” Haven’t you ever

suffered the influence of the ills that torment us day after day?”

“Don’t tell me you’re going to examine my conscience

now; I already have to account for myself to my confessors.”

And laughing easily, she added:

“I accept the evil others do to us as part of the redemption

of our sins before God; however, the bad things we do are stripes

that we inflict upon ourselves. As such, I try to watch myself;

that is, I realize that I mustn’t hurt others. And because of this, I

seek in confession an antidote that from time to time inoculates

me, preventing my bad inclinations from surfacing.”

“It’s remarkable that a person of your intelligence would

resign herself to confession so willingly and sincerely.”

Andre Luiz

22

“Of course, I have to choose a priest I can trust. I don’t want

to buy heaven through calculating means; instead, I want to struggle

against my imperfections. That’s why it wouldn’t be right for me to

open up my heart to someone who couldn’t understand or help me.”

“I see.”

Continuing the conversation based on respectful trust,

Mrs. Serpa considered:

“Believe me; I too have lived more carefully in light of my

disease, so much so, that on the day before coming here, I aligned

myself with my religious obligations by going to confession. Of

all the matters I entrusted to my old confessor, I can tell you the

most important one...”

“No! No! Too much information!” stammered Ernesto,

surprised at the caring willingness with which Evelina was

expressing herself.

“Why not? We’ve been talking as if we were old friends.

You can tell me how you’re preparing for the possibility of death,

but I can’t talk about mine?”

They both burst out laughing, and during a longer pause

in their dialog they looked at each other meaningfully. Both of

them looked a bit frightened.

That mutual look told them they had taken a big step

toward a close friendship.

“Where had he seen this young woman before, so favored

by beauty and intelligence?” wondered Ernesto, puzzled.

“Where could she have met this mature, intelligent

gentleman before, who radiated so much sympathy and

understanding?” wondered Mrs. Serpa, unable to hide the

pleasant surprise that had come over her.

The interlude continued for a few disconcerting seconds

while the sunset combined colors and shadows around them,

announcing that nightfall was near.

23

3

A Friendly Adjustment

Fantini realized that Evelina was troubled by the look he

had given her and hasted to put her at ease:

“Let’s continue, Dona Evelina. I mean you no harm at all.

Just look at me; I’m a sick old man, old enough to be your father,

and believe me, I see you only as a daughter...”

His voice faded somewhat, but then he recovered and

finished:

“The daughter I wish I’d had, instead of the one I do.”

Evelina guessed the hidden pain expressed in his words

and tried to put him at ease:

“You wouldn’t be happy with a sick daughter like me.

But ... let’s go back to my case, I mean my confession.”

“No sad tales...”

“Right. We don’t have a lot of time.”

And she continued with a playful smile:

Andre Luiz

24

“Since we’re speaking with such openness in a place that

may be death’s doorway for either one of us, I can tell you

that there’s only one thing that troubles me. I’ve had the same

disappointments as anyone else. My father died when I was

barely two years old; my widowed mother gave me a stepfather

some time later. While still a child, I was sent to a boarding

school run by goodly nuns. After that, I married a husband

who was much different than what I had dreamed of ... In the

middle of our courtship, tragedy struck. Six months before my

wedding, a fine young man killed himself because of me. He had

attempted suicide once before when he thought I was rejecting

him. I felt very sorry for him. I tried to approach him to console

him at least, but while my feelings were wavering between him

and the man I finally married, he shot himself in the heart. Ever

since then, any happiness for me has been like light mixed with

darkness. Despite my immense love for my husband, I can’t even

be a mother. I’m always sick, discouraged, forlorn...”

“Come now!” ventured Ernesto, striving to find an

optimistic way out for her. “Don’t blame yourself. If not for

you, the fellow would have done the same thing for some other

reason. The suicidal impulse, as much as the criminal one...”

His voice trailed off again as if deep down he was

repressing certain memories that his words were bringing to

mind; however, giving the impression that he had gotten them

under control, he continued:

“These are mysteries of the soul. Maybe they’re the tip of

mental diseases that the spirit has been harboring for a long time.

Suicide and crime should be feared by all of us because they are

acts of insanity resulting from deep processes of mental erosion.”

“You’re trying to make me feel better with your kindness

of heart,” said Evelina thoughtfully. “You’ve probably never

experienced such an acute problem troubling your conscience.”

And Life Goes On

25

“What? Me?” stuttered Fantini, unnerved. “Don’t remind

me of my past, for God’s sake! I’ve made so many mistakes,

suffered so many disappointments!”

And trying to skirt the issue without avoiding it, Ernesto

forced a smile with the skill of mature persons who know

how to use certain facial expressions for certain psychological

effects, adding:

“Weren’t you able to forget the suicide with the help of

the confessionary? Didn’t your spiritual counselor soothe your

sensitive, kind heart?”

“Like I said, I’ve always found confessing my minor

offences to be a sort of moral vaccine against bigger ones;

but in this case I wasn’t able to find the peace of mind I was

looking for ... I believe that if I hadn’t been divided between

the two men for such a long time, I could have prevented the

disaster. All I have to do is think of the unfortunate Tulio and

the picture of his death flashes back into my mind, and with

it comes the guilt.”

“You shouldn’t be so distraught. You’re still very young.

Just like the hand that gradually becomes calloused working

in the field, sensitivity hardens by means of life’s sufferings.

Of course, if we survive the leap we are about to take for our

health, we will witness many suicides, disappointments and

calamities to come.”

Mrs. Serpa thought for a few moments, and as if she were

trying to use the opportunity to soothe her inner wounds, she

asked pointedly:

“You’ve been studying the science of the soul. Do you

really believe we will see our loved ones again after we die?”

Fantini answered obligingly:

“I don’t know why, but your question reminds me of a

quote by Shakespeare: “The miserable have no other medicine

Andre Luiz

26

other again after we leave this world; however, I realize that my

present precarious health may be the setting agent for such a

conviction. Have you ever noticed that ideas and words are the

offspring of circumstances? Imagine if you and I had found

ourselves in the fullness of our physical strength, healthy and

attractive, meeting at a social event – a ball, for instance ... Any

thoughts about the matters that have now brought us together

would be immediately banished from our minds.”

“How true.”

“The disease that afflicts us gives us the right to intertwine

new resources and new interpretations concerning life and death,

and in the realm of the new ideas lying before us, I believe that

life does not end at the grave. We are forced to remember the old

cliché in romantic novels: “Romance ends but life goes on...”

The envelope of flesh will topple over, spent; the spirit, however,

will carry on, always forward!”

“Do you ever think of who you’d like to see again in the

He smiled enigmatically and mocked:

“I can think of somebody I’d rather not!”

“I don’t get the pun. Nonetheless, I feel comforted with

your certainty about the future.”

“You mustn’t and shouldn’t lose your trust in the future.

Remember that, above all else, you are a Christian, a disciple

of a Master who rose from the grave on the third day after

his death.”

Mrs. Serpa didn’t smile. She gazed beyond at the rosy clouds

reflecting the setting sun, realizing, perhaps, that she had been

shaken to the depths of her faith by that unexpected comment.

And Life Goes On

27

After a long pause, she looked at Ernesto again and

prepared to say goodbye:

“And why not? If I happen to foresee the end of my body, I

shall keep the positive thought of our meeting firmly in my mind.”

“Me too.”

“When are you going back to Sao Paulo?”

“Tomorrow morning.”

“Has your surgery been scheduled yet?”

“My husband will decide that with the doctor, but I think

I shall face it next week. What about you?”

“I’m not sure, but I think it’s only a matter of days. I don’t

want to postpone the surgery. Would you perchance give me the

name of your hospital?”

Evelina thought and thought ... and concluded:

“Mr. Fantini, we’re both suffering from the same rare and

treacherous disease. Isn’t that reason enough for us to feel close to

each other? Let’s await the future without anxiety. If we manage to

pull through the ordeal, I’m sure God will grant us another meeting

while still here on earth. But if death does come, our friendship in

Ernesto smiled at her remark and both returned to the

hotel walking slowly in heartfelt silence.

Renewal

Evelina only remembered the comforting presence of

Ernesto, the friend she barely knew, after Caio Serpa, her

husband, left her in that spacious hospital room on the eve of

her surgery. She was there now, mulling over strange thoughts.

She was too young and was almost too sure of her recovery

to dwell on any gloomy outlook. Nevertheless, as she lay there

alone while waiting for the nurse, Fantini’s assertions crossed her

mind, stoking her imagination.

Yes, she was distressed to realize, she was about to face a

serious risk. Perhaps she would not return to her family ... If

she did die, where would she go? When she was a little girl,

she trustingly believed in predestined places of either happiness

or suffering, according to what the old Catholic theology said

about people’s situation after death. Now, however, with science

exploring the cosmic immensity, she was intelligent enough to

realize how tactful her aging priest had been in speaking with her

Andre Luiz

30

about the indispensable renewals being imposed on the religious

realm. From him, her learned and kind friend, she had learned

to keep an unwavering trust in God, in the divine apostolate of

Jesus Christ and the ineffable ministry of the saints. However,

she had decided to set aside for reconsideration all statements of

human authority regarding the things and workings of Divine

Providence. The idea of death arose in her mind even more

forcefully, but Evelina resisted it. She wanted health, physical

well-being. She longed to recover, to live. Suddenly, she began

to think about her problems at home. She was obviously going

through a terrible phase in her marriage. Nevertheless, she had

reason to believe that things could be happily worked out. She

believed she was in her prime as a woman; the only thing she

lacked was a return to physical health. Once she had recovered,

picture. She would change her love interaction with her husband.

She was so intent on making it better that her husband would of

course return her love without her having to resort to acrimony

or argument. More than that, she felt she was useful. She should

get her life back; fight for it at any price. She should feel useful

not only to her family but also to less fortunate people. Of course,

she could fight poverty wherever poverty could be found ...

Thinking about the needy touched her ... How many were

right there nearby, isolated from each other only by walls? Why

hadn’t she ever thought of that before?

She had spent her life as a satellite orbiting three people:

her husband, mother and stepfather ...Why not take back her

energies, renew herself, live? Yes, she would refuse any thought

about the phenomena of death and would concentrate all the

strength she was capable of on reestablishing herself physically.

She had read many psychologists and had learned the

importance of a mental frame of mind. She desired to be healed.