In this tight, discreet narrative, which drifts from one memory to another as if love had its own time-scale, the author movingly describes how Jim freed the narrator from the phantoms of her past and the righteousness of her family and friends.

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But at one time or another, we have all been left behind while the one we love has gone off to train for battle, or keep the peace, or wage war.

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But, at the same time, there's another group of residents who are going, you know, while I love art, I'd rather have a police officer on my block.

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