One day you finally knew br what you had to do, and began, br though the voices around you br kept shouting br their bad advice-- br though the whole house br began to tremble br and you felt the old tug br at your ankles. br "Mend my life!" br each voice cried. br But you didn't stop. br You knew what you had to do, br though the wind pried br with its stiff fingers br at the very foundations, br though their melancholy br was terrible. br It was already late br enough, and a wild night, br and the road full of fallen br branches and stones. br But little by little, br as you left their voices behind, br the stars began to burn br through the sheets of clouds, br and there was a new voice br which you slowly br recognized as your own, br that kept you company br as you strode deeper and deeper br into the world, br determined to do br the only thing you could do-- br determined to save br the only life you could save.