"You can have the other one, too." He excused himself for a while and came back with another frame. He retrieved his gift and placed it beside the other at ne corner of the room.

"It looks like we're having a one-man show in an art gallery."

"It looks like we're two lovebirds in heaven among white clouds." He sat on a chair beside her bed and held her hand. He wanted to ask her questions about why she was crying the day they met, why she was reluctant to answer him when he let her know his feelings for her and why she felt that way yesterday. All the whys of her mysterious outlook in life and the whys of her enigmatic evasions. Tom shielded his questions, however, thinking they might just aggravate her situation.

She held his hand as firmly as if in answer to his train of thoughts. "How can we celebrate my birthday here? Any suggestions?"

"Just close your eyes and lay still fo a minute."