The woman walked away, leaving January to continue reading. Though anxious to return to the story, the woman's silly words were running through her head. January couldn't concentrate on the possible death of the turtle because she was becoming increasingly frightened that perhaps the woman was right. And she couldn't really risk the devastation of her entire future, could she?

January looked around, and knew only one thing for certain. Happiness was not going to present itself in The Lily Pad's sad excuse of a coffee shop. So she stuck a napkin in her book to mark her place, then left.