Hafiz: "Now is the time to know that all you do is sacred."

Forty-eight hours after surgery

I feel for Samwise. He’s lost his way and needs to find his purpose again. There is no doubt he will. For that’s what he does.

At home, he’s indifferent to Emily’s surgery, and Emily herself. He’s not the least bit curious about what has occurred to her. But the last two mornings, when we were on the trails, he was out of sorts. His usual role is to take the lead unless someone lags. Then he circles back, and checks in on them. I’ve seen this repeatedly on the few occasions we’ve walked with other people, but always with Emily, who dawdles with this scent or that.

These last two mornings with just he and I, though, he cannot figure out what he’s supposed to do. Yesterday, he kept waiting for Emily, even though we’d left her at home. Today, he wanted me to lead. Even then, he had less energy and purpose.

The one time he was ahead of me, a large doe stepped gracefully from the forest onto the path ten feet away. She looked at us, uncertain on which way to bolt. Samwise, who would have b…