Review contains some spoilers



I'd be lying if I gave this a rating any lower than five stars. Why? 'Cause this short story about a woman in the later stages of her life struggling to decide between grabbing onto what might be her last chance at the passion of her life or remaining with her husband in his final stages made me feel a great deal. Watching the deterioration of Nathaniel as someone who has chronic health issues, and who often feels a great deal of guilt and internal struggle for the possible burden they might be or become, I related with him a great deal. It's not to say that I didn't relate to Elma, of course, just in a different way. In this it was that the passion of her life was so hindered by something beyond her control — her body. I'm definitely quite teary.

Overall, the story was beautiful and moving; each of the characters were well-developed, and interesting. Even characters like Sheldon are hard to dislike as you understand where he's coming from, really. This has to happen, it's important, whether he feels badly or not. And in Dorothy comes something wonderful. . . the compassion to be found in this story, and the love as well, is boundless for being so short in words.