you." He spoke as if he were speaking to a little girl
who might be frightened by his sudden appearance. "Tony, what are you saying?"
"I'm saying I do love you; I do want you. I do
need you, Leigh." His voice was a hoarse, .throaty
whisper.
"Leigh? I'm not Leigh. I'm Annie. Tony, what's
wrong with you. Please . . get me Rye. I want to
speak to Rye. I'm hungry," I said, nervous and
frightened now. "I slept through supper and I'm
hungry, I'm sure Rye will be happy to get up and
prepare something for me," I babbled, hoping to snap
him out of his dream. He sounded and looked like a
man who was sleepwalking. "Go wake him. Please." "She's asleep. She won't know anything," he
said, moving around the side of my bed.
"She? Who's asleep?" My heart was pounding
harder and harder. I felt as if my lungs were collapsing. it was so hard to catch my breath. My face felt
hot, my neck on fire, and my mouth had become
terribly dry. I couldn't swallow.
"Not that it matters. She doesn't know what I do
at night or where I go. She doesn't even care anymore.
She has her own interests, her own friends." He
laughed. "She has herself. She's always had herself
and that's always been enough for her, but it's not
enough for me, Leigh. You were right." He reached
out for my hand. I pulled it back and moved as
quickly as I could to the other side of the bed, but the
newfound strength I had found in my lower body
during the day seemed gone. Fear and shock drove all
my energy away. I was beginning to feel numb all
over and not just in my legs. I had to bring him to his