The Sweet Hereafter
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:54:14
Every time l go on one
of these flights to rescue Zoe,

:54:18
l remember the summer
we almost lost her.

:54:21
She was three years old.
:54:24
lt happened one morning
at this cottage we used to rent.

:54:30
We were all together,
sleeping in bed.

:54:34
lt was a wonderful time
in our lives.

:54:38
We still felt we had a future
together, the three of us.

:54:46
Did you ever visit
that cottage?

:54:49
l don't think so.
:54:54
l remember l was...
awakened by Zoe's breathing.

:54:58
lt was labored.
:55:00
l looked across
and noticed that...

:55:02
she was sweating...
:55:05
and all swollen, and l...
:55:09
l grabbed her...
:55:10
and splashed some water
on her face.

:55:13
-What happened?
-l didn't know.

:55:15
l was in a complete panic.
:55:17
l guess she'd been
bitten by some insect.

:55:20
But there was no doctor.
:55:22
The nearest hospital
was 40 miles away,

:55:25
and she was continuing
to swell up...

:55:30
Clara took her in her arms
and tried to breast-feed her...

:55:33
while l dialed the hospital.
:55:37
l finally got a doctor.
:55:41
He surmised
that there was a nest...

:55:43
of baby black widow spiders
in the mattress.

:55:47
He said they had to be babies,
:55:49
or else, with Zoe's body weight,
she'd be dead.

:55:52
He said l had to rush her
to the hospital.

:55:54
He said, ''Mr. Stephens,
there's a good chance...

:55:56
''that you won't get her here
before her throat closes.

:55:59
''lt's very important
that you keep her calm.''


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