nst the wall with th

kneeling beside a pile of blankets

hardwood floor. Then he looked at the mass

ng? he asked. Hi

ed pajamas, but she still looked frail.

d, she said. Her voice wa

on the floo

g in that bed w

w across the floor. "This is ridiculous.

, she corrected.

squeeze, but he was angry. He was un

the bed

. "You're

ingers left on her pale skin. Guilt flashed throug

r. See if I care. If you get sick

e stood under the spray, trying to wash away the image of her

out, the ro

bed. The she

could hear her breathing on the floor.

de. He looked over

into a tight

mm

off. He got out of

ex

nswer. She j

yingly light. She felt like a bir

, pushing weakly

, he wh

e bed. He pulled

s much distance between them as the matt

. He stared at the curve of

wanted to pull her back t

turned his

s apart, separated by