title: Reflections of a Misfit
author:  P. T. L. Perrin 
description: P. T. L. Perrin (Patty) wasn't interested in the Bible, but as much as she tried to evade the God of the Bible, she found Him at every turn. She finally surrendered and wondered why she'd run for so long. Patty grew up as a military brat in Europe, where she attended German and Italian schools before American high school and college. She draws from a deep well of life experiences and has discovered that we are all misfits in some way. Patty and her husband live in south Florida and are the happy grandparents of a fluid, constantly growing family.
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  ## Chapter 16
  
  ![Leafy Tree](../Graphics/tree_leaves.gif)
  
  #### _Leavetakings_
  
  * * *
  
  Lying on sweat-soaked sheets, staring at the ceiling, Perrin realized that the
  darkness was turning to gray. Soon the sun would be edging above the horizon.
  Morning. A time for new hopes; a time to be up and doing. New hopes. He almost
  laughed. How long had he been awake? An hour or more, surely, this time.
  Scratching his curly beard, he winced. His bruised shoulder had stiffened, and
  he sat up slowly; sweat popped out on his face as he worked the arm. He kept
  at it methodically, though, suppressing groans and now and again biting back a
  curse, until he could move the arm freely, if not comfortably.
  
  Such sleep as he had managed had been broken and fitful. When he was awake he
  had seen Faile's face, her dark eyes accusing him, the hurt he had put there
  making him cringe inside. When he sle