Accident victims -- Fiction; Chicago (Ill.) -- Fiction; Man-woman relationships -- Fiction; Science fiction; Short stories
"Sweetheart," he said slowly, looking at her for what it seemed to
George was the first time, "you are lovely. You're more than I ever
dreamed. And I don't care what you say or think of me for saying this,
but I love you. I've loved you since I first heard your voice. I know
it's impossible--no woman could ever knowingly fall in love with me--a
freak, a brain in a bottle--but that can't stop me from loving you.
Maybe it's just that I'm so happy to have a body again after so long
that makes me say this...."
She had come around the corner of the bed, and was sitting on the edge
of it now. There were tears in her eyes and her hands were clasped over
his. "I know, George," she said slowly, when he had stopped. "I felt
the same way as you--when I got my new body--but I didn't have anyone
to say it to."
His eyes widened in disbelief. His mouth worked for several seconds
before the words would come. "You...."
She nodded slowly. "George, don't you remember many months ago--the
night of your accident on the El ... there was a girl on the train with
you...."
He stared at her, sudden amazement in his eyes. "Of course I
remember--but--you--you mean _you are_...."
"Yes, George. I'm the same girl--different body, of course. My case
wasn't as tough as yours. Your brain was close to death for quite
awhile before you regained conscious thought."
He looked at her incredulously. "But you said _I_ was the first to ever
go this far...."
Her face was close to his, her lips smiling. "I said you were the first
_man_ to pull through. I was praying for you George. I needed you--as
much as you thought you needed me...."
As his arms closed about her, there wasn't much else for either to
say....
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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