The sky swirled angrily, terrifyingly, reaching with skeleton fingers to pluck her from her wretched existence. Phebe fell to her knees and prayed, prayed for an answer to this Apocalypse, which was surely directed at her alone. And when at last she found the courage to look up, it became clear what God wanted of her. She had suffered enough. She had endured loneliness enough. She had done her penance for whatever sin she had committed. God would shed his mercy on her at last. Phebe knew what his wish for her was, and she was prepared to comply.
