A Drop of Rain (26 page)

Naomi, perhaps you can be proud of me. I am at least a man who, for fifteen years in the prime of his life, followed his conscience and tried to change the world for the better.

I am also a man who now, in mid-life, would like to try to make amends for wrongs he committed long ago.

Perhaps it is not too late for you and me to become acquainted. What do you say? Can you forgive me? Are you willing?

I send you and your mother my best wishes.

Yours truly,

Mark Janasiewicz

This evening I am going to accept Joe's proposal of marriage. Naomi thinks I should. Time stopped when Hanna became ill. Soon time must begin again.

It is the eve of a new year, new century, and new millenium.

I hope the human race has learned from the mistakes of the past.

I hope I have too.

Heather Kirk has written newspaper and magazine articles, radio scripts, poetry and fiction. She has also taught for many years at universities and colleges.

Heather grew up in Oakville, Ontario, and studied English literature at Dalhousie University in Halifax, the University of Toronto and York University. She now lives with her husband and dog in Barrie, Ontario.

Heather has been interested in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union since she was a teenager. She lived and worked in Poland between 1977 and 1979, and she has Polish friends still today. Poland has informed and inspired the writing of both the novels which she has published with Napoleon,
Warsaw Spring
and
A Drop of Rain
.