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Show Woodworth/20 he dreaming? About her? Karen? Neither one? The inside of her head feels as gray and flat as the 'air outside. If it's raining hard, the subway will be running late. She's never seen him sleeping before, in daylight. Has he ever seen her sleep? Hope not. But no. It's always been dark if they slept. And just for a while. He's had to leave. People's faces relax in sleep, lose their finality. Like pancack batter. Pancakes when they are awake. He stayed the night. He stayed the night, slept in her bed, and never called home. Their relationship has changed. She reaches out to touch his flesh, soft and warm. No turgidity in sleep. He sighs heavily, stretching both arms up past the pillow. His whble body seems to follow, stretch, taut to a quiver like a cat. Then he settles again. Back to sleep? Why does she want him awake? There is no answer. Only flat gray, like ocean fog."Gary?" she says. Does he know it's her? No answer- Will he open his eyes, and be surprised? Not his wife. Something's changed. "Gary?" "Huh?" He opens both eyes, cracked, still plumped against the pillow. She expects him to cry, or be fussy.. A baby after its nap. "Good morning," she says. "Hi," he smiles, closes his eyes again. Not fussy. Satiated,.. The cat. She searches the fog for something to say. "You stayed the night," she says, finally. But that was the wrong thing to say. Now he will think she is being possessive. Did it really mean something, after all? "Ummm," he says. Eyes still closed, still smiling. "You stayed the night," she says again, a statement this time. She turns on her side, facing him, lifts an arm to his |
