She was trying to help Bill, who lay on the ground bleeding and unconscious, when Luther suddenly appeared, gliding toward them from the fog and calling her name. Unable to move, she stood still while he came closer. She tried to scream, but no sound would come. Then something soft was tapping at her face. Christine woke, her eyes focusing on the familiar room. On the pillow next to her sat Tommy. The cat extended his paw once more and tapped tentatively at her cheek. Still shaking from the vivid dream, she pushed herself up on an elbow and looked at the clock. It was nearly two p.m. She barely remembered falling into bed this morning; she felt far from rested even now. The sleep she had gained barely touched the surface of her exhaustion, but she knew she could sleep no more today. There was too much to do. She reached for the phone and dialed the ICU to check on Bill’s progress. Bill was little changed since the morning except for some attempts to speak.
