Whimpering

"It's impossible for a man to survive alone for decades, Garrett. Impossible."

Daphne collapsed into Garrett's chest and clung to the man's clothes with her eyes closed. She did not want to face reality, but the opposite was happening. The tighter she closed her eyes, the clearer the image became. It was a vivid picture of a past that would never fade, swallowed by time.

Garrett was stunned, frozen in a stillness that immobilized him. He couldn't move an inch.

"It is impossible for Allan to survive alone until death takes him, Garrett. It can't be."

Not a word escaped Garrett's lips. Despite Daphne's revelations, he could only remain silent. As Daphne told Garrett everything, he seemed to be struck by a reality he had never expected. A reality he had never seen, even though it had been right in front of him all along.

"Can you see it?" Daphne asked, her voice trembling through the flowing tears. "All his life there has never been another woman in Allan's life. Never anyone but Nor