The Prodigal, Part Two

PORTIONs OF THE DAMAGED DIARY OF JOANNA WOZNIAK, AS RECOVERED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OF ERIE, PA, ON THE EVENING OF MAY 28, 1974.
Final Entry, DATED 2 July 1936

The doctor finally admitted to me to-day that there is nothing more he can do for me but ease the pain. It has grown so bad these last few days. The minister came around this after-noon to discuss matters with me. I told him the truth, that I had always had faith and still did; I left out the part about trafficking with spirits. I think he suspected, when he was looking at the books, but he did not ask. I am no Catholic, and neither is he; there is no need to make confession. It would be a lie if I did, anyway. I do not doubt I made the right choice about Aaboukingon, or that he made the right choice to return to the water. But I still stare out my window, looking off toward the Mississippi, hoping to see him come and make this all right again.

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