i asked , falling to my knees and putting my fingers to tara 's cold neck . as hard as it was to spend five years of my life in prison , it made me become stronger , both mentally and physically . i nodded , but i knew it was the opposite of true . the man made the sign of the cross . when the boys came off the track and they all sat down with a plate of nachos and soft drinks , elaine said , go ahead . her heart sank farther , a rock dropping into a pond . 