"That's an awful lot to place on a child," she murmurs. "I hope I am no burden on you, Sam. I survived and landed here, maybe not by Chuck's hand entirely. There's goodness out there, still. It has a way of coming together, I find. Especially when a few battered souls need it the most."

Merlan laughs softly.

"It sounds like horseshit, I know. But I can't lose hope."