neagley blinked and composed herself and then tilted her face down a little and looked up at me , her eyes on mine , her eyes open wide and serious and frank and sympathetic and understanding and encouraging , her lips parted a fraction as if imminently ready to exhale a murmur of absolute empathy , her whole demeanor astonished and marveling at how bravely i was bearing the many heavy burdens my lot in life had brought me .