Chapter 278
When Love Meets Death's Threshold
When Natásha opened Prince Andrew’s door with a familiar movement and let Princess Mary pass into the room before her, the princess felt the sobs in her throat. Hard as she had tried to prepare herself, and now tried to remain tranquil, she knew that she would be unable to look at him without tears. The princess understood what Natásha had meant by the words: “two days ago this suddenly happened.” She understood those words to mean that he had suddenly softened and that this softening and gentleness were signs of approaching death. As she stepped to the door she…
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Critical Thinking Exercise
Map Your Own Crossing-Over Moments
Think of a time when you were mentally or emotionally leaving a situation (job, relationship, living situation) before you physically left. Write down how your behavior changed and how others reacted. Then identify someone in your life who might be in a crossing-over phase right now.
Consider:
- •Consider how your detachment might have hurt people who weren't ready to let go
- •Notice whether you took someone else's withdrawal personally when they were just transitioning
- •Think about the difference between cruel rejection and natural emotional distance during transitions
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you experienced the unbridgeable gap between yourself and someone who was crossing over to a different life stage. How did you handle the loneliness of being left behind, or the guilt of being the one who was leaving?
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