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flitted through her mind, too elusive to catch or fully understand

"You want me to stay?"

Stay The as like a gift from God, perfect She understood

"Tree," she said in a rush At his frown, she knew that she'd done so word had slipped froain

She tightened her hold, feeling the hard muscles of his arm beneath the soft fabric of his sleeve "Basket" She winced No Not right again

The sht," hethe moisture from her cheeks "Youneedn't cry"

Cry The moisture in her eyes She remembered suddenly that the water was called tears when it ca tears

"You'llbefineneed sleep" He sighed again, and like the sely sad

She offered hih it hurt to do so She wanted so od that she already was fine, that she was everything he wanted her to be She couldn't re, couldn't find the words to unlock her emotions or tell him how she felt, but still she knew In soe existed She loved him

"I a the coainst hers Of course she was fine God ith her Still s, she fell asleep

Ian stared down at Selena She was sleeping peacefully now; there was no evidence that she'd slipped back into the coma

She had spoken to him, touched him Even now,

49

he could feel the warm imprint of her hand on his arertips