"She misses Sam. We- it's my fault, Phoenix. I told her not to tell anyone what was going on and we stopped talking to our friends. I'm sorry."

It was in Janie's nature to be self-reliant, and she didn't want to appear weak in front of Phoenix. She was 594 years old, not a youngster of eighty-four anymore. "I don't know. Do you think they'll let me go now?"