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She felt herself floating toward the light It beckoned and drew her forward Very slowly, she opened her eyes The light hurt She blinked hard and tried to see the world around her, but everything was gray and dis familiar

"Ohet doctorcarrick"

People swar sound She shrank into the co the lacy hem of the quilt

The blurry strangers moved closer, so close that she could hear theHeels clicked on the floor, a knee banged the bed fra noises, theirdown at her Meaningless noise Gibberish She closed her eyes and tried to find the darkness again, but this tiood on her skin

"Isshe stillawake?"

"He'shere" There was a burst of sound, a shuffling movement of the small crowd

She writhed fitfully, afraid and hurting Everywhere, pain Her throat was on fire, and her head pounded She squeezed her eyes shut, wishing they would be quiet, wishing they would leave her alone, wishing?

"Wellhellothere Selena You'reback" 43

44

45

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A great, soothing sense of calh her at the sound of that voice The tension in her taut body eased, her fingers unfurled slowly, shaking froel who'd saved her

She opened her eyes slowly This ti at her orried looks on their faces, but they were farther back now, giving her rooers

God was in the center of them all He moved toward her, his breathlessly handsoently, he sat beside her on the bed She felt the ht, heard the planks beneath it groan quietly

"You gaveus quite ascare"