But I suffered a lot first.

I suffered--horribly.
And when I got there--the door was shut in my face." Violet uttered a curious little laugh that had in it a note of pain.

"That was when I died," she said.
Olga stooped to kiss her.

"It was a dream," she said.
"Oh, but it wasn't," said Violet.

She threw her arms unexpectedly around Olga's neck, and held her very tightly, as if she were afraid.
"Allegro," she said under her breath, "I believe I left my soul behind.
It's up there, waiting for the door to open.