he came like a dam breaking , burst after burst until he thought he 'd die if it did n't end . thomas turned , facing the rest of the room . he saw this as a test for both of them . i let my wishful thinking get the better of me . nothing was going to ruffle his calm . i was not saying it the way i was thinking it in my head . this is the time for the dead to help the living . '' the house was silent as she made her way up the hall . 