Her eyes suddenly fill with tears, and she is powerless to stop it. She bows her head and cries. Before she knows it, she feels Wayne's arms around her.
     "It's going to be ok, Melinda," he whispers softly. "I'll help you. You won't be alone. I promise you won't be alone."
     She clings to him gratefully, wondering how he knew what it was she was thinking... Her greatest fear is being left alone. Abandoned like she was abandoned by her father, and then her mother. And now her grandmother.
     He pulls away from the embrace, looking at his watch.
     "I have to go... I have to get to the clinic soon. But call me if you need me."
     She nods and watches as he hurries down the walk in the direction of is car.

     Melinda spends the rest of the day nervously watching over her grandmother. Her mind keeps wandering back to what the doctor had said: her grandmother didn't have much time left. She sighed mournfully at the thought. Perhaps she would be alone sooner than she had imagined...
     She closes her eyes, remembering how Wayne had told her that she wouldn't be left alone, that he would be there for her. The thought made her feel safe... even loved.
     There was no use denying it; she was falling for Wayne Tithing. The attraction was one thing, but it was very difficult not to develop feelings for him when she watched how tenderly he cared for her grandmother. But still she vowed not to fall too hard. The last thing she wanted was a relationship, especially with a married man. The wedding ring hadn't been the only clue. She had heard him mention his wife to her grandmother a few times.
     Melinda is still worried. She puts her palm on her grandmother's forehead; she is cool, there is no sign of a fever. "Is this what happens every time there is an episode, Grandmother?" Melinda asks quietly.
     She sees her grandmother nod faintly. "It happens suddenly. The pain is excruciating, and then it is gone. Every night it happens, and during the day I can rest..." she says, slowly drifting to sleep.
     Melinda leans back, a frown darkening her face. Why were these episodes only happening at night? And better yet, did Wayne know this?
     She gets up quickly and goes to the phone. Once she reaches the clinic, she asks to be connected with Dr. Tithing.
     "Did you know that my grandmother is only having these episodes at night, and never during the day," she asks as soon as she hears Wayne's greeting.
     "Well, yes," he responds, "That seems to be the pattern..."
     "Don't you find that strange?"
     "Not really, Melinda, is there something wrong?"
     She rubs a hand over her eyes and shakes her head. "No, no... I'm sorry to have bothered you. I just thought this was important... Sorry again. I'll see you tonight, as usual?"
     "Yes, I'll be by again tonight. Why don't you get some rest? You've had a rough night."
     She smiles at his concern. "Thank you, Wayne, I'll do that. See you tonight."
     After she puts the phone back on it's cradle, she takes a long look at herself in the mirror. She does look tired. There are dark circles under her eyes, and the lines around her mouth are deeper than usual.
     'Maybe he's right,' she thinks to herself. 'I need to get some sleep.' She changes into her pajamas and slips into bed. She immediately falls asleep and doesn't wake up until she hears Wayne's car pull up outside the house.