she carefully built a pile of dry leaves , twigs and branches , breathed a prayer to mother mary , and struck one of her precious matches . the moment it touched my skin , it was as if the world shifted , or at least the inside of my head did . they just run off and leave us to wonder what in the world theyre thinking . the dusty road was deserted , hemmed in along both sides by similar high walls . pressing her ear against his chest , she listened to the gentle hum of his heartbeat . 