Joan now lived a life of poverty, loneliness, and despair. She longed for something, anything to give her the desire to finish her remaining years of life. When she found Clarissa, life returned to the old woman. There was again someone to talk with, have dinner with, and someone to sit by the fire with on those cold nights. Clarissa brought joy, the meaning of love, and the desire to care for someone back into Joan s life. The end was near for Joan but she lived those days with Clarissa as if she was young again."