Power of the Brain / Body

The stories “Willa,” “Rest Stop,” and “The Gingerbread Girl” are all stories that demonstrate the surprising power of the human mind or/and body when it is put under stress. “Willa” demonstrates the mind’s power to see what it expects to see despite the circumstances. In “Rest Stop,” Dykstra/Hardin learns that while he cannot summon his signature character to help him deal with an abusive man, he can make himself appear capable of handling the situation himself. Finally, the story “The Gingerbread Girl,” tells the story of a woman whose attempt to run from grief strengthened her to the point she was able to fight off a predator.

In “Willa,” David, the victim of a train derailment has to be convinced by his girlfriend that he is dead because his mind shows him what he expects to see, not necessarily...