Mara Cordovan's life had been rough even before she learned she was dying. Her death sentence was caused by chemical exposure in the workplace. Corporate greed was to blame -- and her demise could have been prevented. With nothing left to lose, she decides against seeking restitution in the time she has left. Instead, Mara wants revenge.
"What did I want to do, see, accomplish before I was finished here? How did I want to leave this earthly plane? How would I leave my affairs, as they say? I order? In utter disarray? My thoughts drifted to swans. Folklore says they sing beautiful songs before they die, sort of a last hurrah. I wanted to sing a song too, my own last hurrah."