"Talk to him, he can hear you," the doctor said. He turned his back to the old man and pulled the family aside. "It won't be much longer," he said in a lower voice he was sure the old man could not hear.

This is it then, thought his oldest. She looked at her father and sighed.

Dear God, I'm not ready, thought his youngest girl. She went up and held onto his hand.

When, thought the middle, and do I have time to run out? She looked up at the clock on the wall.

But the room was as silent as snow.