“Yes, of course,” she answered nestling her head against his chest. “Kiss me,” she told him. Putting the crutch carefully under his armpit, he bent down as Aunt tried to straighten up her body to receive his kiss. What a long, burning kiss! It seemed to me that it contained everything: happiness, suffering and long waiting. It was not until midnight that I heard heavy thuds on the pavement recede farther and farther.