Concerned, Mrs. Duncan, her neighbor and close friend, paid her a visit one day. “Don’t do this to yourself, Margaret,” she said. “I know it’s difficult, but think about yourself as well. You can’t afford to ignore your health in this manner!”

“I don’t want to think about anything, Claire,” Margaret said. “With Chris gone, I feel like I don’t have the zeal to live anymore. I believe we should have considered adoption; at the very least, a child would have alleviated my sadness.”

“Then why don’t you do that now?” Mrs. Duncan suggested. “You’re still earning money, and I don’t think there’ll be any problems. If you want, my sister can recommend a good orphanage close to her home. We can all go there!”