Page 6 (1/2)

She retted it Red-hot pain twisted her ht she'd vohts of life after death vanished

She felt as if she'd been hit by a bus

It had all been a dream There was no second chance for 15

16

Tess; no fa by a crib, reaching out

She was surprised by the sharp regret that flashed through her She'd really wanted that second chance at life At love No one in this life would have missed her

Disappointed, she closed her eyes and sank back into the darkness of oblivion

She was dreaood " Tess clawed her way to consciousness The pain was still there, gnaith dull teeth at her eable now She said a quick prayer to the God of anesthesia and coaxed her eyes open

She was in a huge bed, looking up at the floor She frowned in concentration, willing her tired eyes to do their job, and h

er equally tired brain to function Blinking, she tried again

It wasn't a floor It was a ceiling built of oak boards "Dead? Don't knowpossible"

Tess gasped She'd heard that! She struggled up to her elbows The effort left her shaking and winded and in inconceivable pain Her head pounded She found a stationary lump of black and focused on it

The luray hair studded his pointed, balding head Thin wire-rilasses perched precariously on his beaklike nose Rheumy eyes stared into her own

"Mrs Rafferty? Axe you okay?"

Tess glanced around for Mrs Rafferty