She had recently learned a loving-kindness meditation in her yoga class in which you take a small time-out to send positive thoughts both to yourself and to the difficult people in your life. Would Kate like to try? Allyson asked. Together, they sat on the floor with their backs against the wall and said the meditative phrases out loud, wishing these things both for themselves and for Melissa: May you be safe. May you be healthy and strong. May you be happy. May you be peaceful and at ease.

