“Frances, I simply don’t have the strength to pretend I want to be here anymore…” I stared at him. “You don’t want to be here, in our house, with me and your daughter?” His gaze fixed on some point in the distance. “I don’t want to be in this world.” Startled, I again reached for him, this time instinctively, to offer comfort, but his hand was lifeless. “I’m a burden to you, Frances. An embarrassment. I’m no good for you, and no good for Susie.”
