A loud clank woke Allison from a deep sleep. Her eyes fluttered open in the late afternoon sunshine and she shook her head, feeling groggy. Melissa still snoozed beside her, more trusting now, after several months of stability. If only adults could heal as quickly as children do, she thought ruefully. It seems like Wesley"s wariness is rubbing off on me, rather than the other way around. I knew it wouldn"t be fast or easy, but I expected things to be a bit better by now. Instead, we seem to be at a stalemate—no animosity, but also no progress. I wonder if Cody can offer any insight. If only adults could heal as quickly as children doIt seems like Wesley"s wariness is rubbing off on me, rather than the other way around. I knew it wouldn"t be fast or easy, but I expected things to be a bit

