Atrus's ending in Tomahna

Catherine has taken Yeesha to Tay. She's all right; she really is a strong little girl. But, uh, she's gonna need time. She loved Achenar and... and Sirrus very much.

God, this is hard. It's as if a door inside me has closed despite everything I'd done to keep it open.

But in a way, maybe that's good. My sons may be gone, but... but my daughter is safe. And now Catherine and I can give her all the love and attention she'll... need to move on with her life. Just as we must move on with ours.

Endings are just another form of beginning, I guess. And the harder an end is to face, the more hope we bring with us to the next beginning.