The sunrays slipped into the room and chased all the shadows away. The room began to warm and the rays moved across the floor to the chair. They struck him in the face and he slowly opened his eyes. He took a deep breath and pulled himself out of the chair. His hand placed the glass still resting within on the coffee table and he walked to the back hall.

He stopped outside the last door on the right and slowly opened it. Quietly he slipped into the dark room and walked over to the bed. He pulled out the medicine kit and filled the shot. Then he sat on the edge of the bed and lifted her arm up to him. He found the same vein and slowly inserted the needle.

Then he pushed the medicine into her blood stream and pulled the needle out. He placed it back in the medicine kit and began a gently massage on her hand. He looked up at her face and found the brusies still there. His throat tightened as he remembered how he had found her. When he felt a slight twitch, he looked down at her hand.

It was still pale and he lifted it up to his lips. He ran his lips over each knuckle and felt her jerk. Once again he looked up at her and this time watched her open her eyes. He came face to face with her hazel eyes, but what stalled him was the shadows now etched throughout her eyes. She watched him for a few and slowly looked around the room.

He started the massage on her hand again and said, "You look better."

She looked at him once more and said, "I feel like hell."

His lips twitched and he said, "That's the drugs still in you."

Her eyes slightly narrowed and he countered, "I had to put them in to keep fighting the toxins still in your blood stream."

She closed her eyes and said, "I'm too tired to hurt you."

He read her tone perfectly and said, "Goodnight, Sheila."

His lips brushed her knuckles once more and he stood up. He rested her hand next to her and leaned over her. His eyes studied her face and then he brushed her lips softly.

He leaned into her ear and whispered, "I'm sorry."

Then he straightened and watched her completely succomb to sleep. When she was gone, he walked to the door and left the room. His feet took him to his room and he closed his door behind him. He removed his shirt and rested it on the chair nearby. Then he walked over to his bed and fell into it with every muscle falling head first into the night and a world of only sleep.

PGS