；　I　hoped　fervently　that　Harry　would

pull　through。　For　Charlie's

sake。　For　Sue's　and　Leah's　and　Seth's

Billy's　sofa　was　right　next　to　the　radiator；　and　I　was　warm　now；　despite　my

soaked　clothes。　My　lungs

ached　in　a　way　that　pushed　me　toward　unconsciousness　rather　than　keeping　me

awake。　I　wondered

vaguely　if　it　was　wrong　to　sleep　or　was　I　getting　drowning　mixed　up　with

concussions　？　Jacob

began　softly　snoring；　and　the　sound　of　it　soothed　like　a　lullaby。　I　fell

asleep　quickly。

For　the　first　time　in　a　very　long　time；　my　dream　was　just　a　normal　dream。　Just

a　blurred　wandering

through　old　memories—blinding　bright　visions　of　the　Phoenix　sun；　my　mother's

face；　a　ramshackle　tree

house；　a　faded　quilt；　a　wall　of　mirrors；　a　flame　on　the　black　water　I　forgot

each　of　them　as　soon　as　the

picture　changed。

The　last　picture　was　the　only　one　that　stuck　in　my　head。　It　was　meaningless—

just　a　set　on　a　stage。　A

balcony　at　night；　a　painted　moon　hanging　in　the　sky。　I　watched　the　girl　in　her

nightdress　lean　on　the　railing

and　talk　to　herself。

Meaningless　but　when　I　slowly　struggled　back　to　consciousness；　Juliet　was　on

my　mind。

Jacob　was　still　asleep；　he'd　slumped　down　to　the　floor　and　his　breathing　was

deep　and　even。　The　house

was　darker　now　than　before；　it　was　black　outside　the　window。　I　was　stiff；　but

warm　and　almost　dry。　The

inside　of　my　throat　burned　with　every　breath　I　took。

I　was　going　to　have　to　get　up—at　least　to　get　a　drink。　But　my　body　just

wanted　tc　he　here　limp；　to　never

move　again。

Instead　of　moving；　I　thought　about　Juliet　some　more。

I　wondered　wh