Mary McCall br one of my students br raped br in an abandoned building br her face br then set aflame br alive br but forever disfigured br no rest br from the nightmare br and when I lay down br couldn’t catch my breath br a fierce rumble of br torment— br Oh, the dear girl br pain br I couldn’t imagine. br “I wish I never knew.” br Then whimpered for a moment br but didn’t cry br mumbling, “I ought to cry.” br Then I tried to cry, br but could not. br “No soul left br in this tattered body, ” I moaned br and left the bed, br turned on the light br sat in the green chair br slowly following my breath br gradually rhythm soothed me br and soon began to muse br on the great matters br this entire experiment br of humanity br wouldn’t last more than a million years br if that long br a blip in the grand sweep br of time br measured in billions br and billions of years. br I inhaled deeply br and felt tingling in my arms and legs br beginning to taste Buddha’s great truth— br Not a thing exists br just the endless transformation of atoms br and a bit of joy entered me. br “No matter what happens br I’m lucky to have come across br his wisdom.” br Without warning br tears br Mary’s suffering br finally br real.