Abby opened the door and caught her breath. The man standing behind the desk was Douglas but was also not Douglas. He looked so drastically different from when she had seen him only a few days before, so different that it seemed almost preposterous. Gone was the ragged beard that had sprouted in all directions, giving him the air of a careless eccentric. Gone were the haphazard threadbare garments that he’d so thoughtlessly worn. Here now was a man who was freshly shaven, who had given care to himself as he dressed. The effect was staggering. Had his hair been trimmed too? His entire posture,
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It can be more than startling to see such a notable change in anyone. What about how much Abby herself had changed? That was more gradual but still astounding.
