It was a mistake, standing there, quoting Scripture at Parker like that. They’re words of life, but no one needs words of life crammed down her throat, least of all Parker. Don’t they say that an animal in pain will fight even the hands that try to give it life? She was telling me the story of a painful life that had passed since we last met, and all I could do was tell her what she needed to do. Wrong tactic, Giuseppe.

            But the words were truth. “Forgive, for your own peace of mind.” Maybe someday she’ll hear them.