Gillian woke up in a strange room. The dominant color was blue. Blue bed, blue walls, blue rugs..."My mother took the liberty to decorate here while I'm in the hospital.""Huh?" She jumped when Rye spoke."Sorry. Did I startle you? Good morning," he smiled at her cheerfully. "Would

Rye knew that he should stop while he could but he was waiting for Gillian to say 'no' or just push him away.But Gillian seemed enjoying herself. She smooched him unreservedly. It seemed she was liberating herself from inhibitions...His keen ears picked up the rustling of leaves. Someone was coming their way.Rye lifted up his head. He was breathing fast. His lips felt like they were swollen. Gillian had sucked them repeatedly."Gillian, somebody may see us," he warned her gutturally. He could not recognize his own voice."Oh!" Gillian gasped shakily. She swam swiftly away from him. Her limbs were quivering when she lifted herself with difficulty."You go ahead. Your bags are still in my room," Rye said in a controlled tone.Gillian scuttled towards the elevator. Her wet over-sized blouse was body-hugging and the figure of a Venus was revealed. Her erect breasts and rounded hips were head-turners.Rye wanted to possess that woman. He wanted to control, to dominate and to overshadow.

After talking to Madam Hess on the phone, Gillian ran downstairs. She wanted to ask Rye's help. Her mother was in imminent danger. She was in mid-stairway when she remembered the elevator but she heard the voices. She got curious so she slowed down."I got a crush on you the first time I saw you. And the more I saw you, the more I like you. Why don't you believe that I love you!" Ginny said softly. Her voice was laced with desperation.The male voice was muffle

Madam Hess went inside the room silently. She had a bath and pampered herself with fragrant powder all over. Now, she was like a walking flowery garden.Her short hair was primped and her face made up. Her beady eyes had kohl and her large lips were painted red. Her saggy cheeks looked tight because of a cheap face lift. The would-be doctor who performed the operation told her to come back every six months.Madam Hess paused at the door of the bathroom and made

After their crying bout, they slept while holding each other. No one noticed that Rye carried Gillian to the bed and he laid down beside her. Both were deep in misery.When Rye opened his eyes, he remembered the incident.'I can walk,' he thought exaltedly. He recalled the occurrence the other day. He walked absently, by the pool towards the wheelchair.Rye separated from Gillian slowly, careful not to wake her. He flexed his legs and feet, massaging his knees.'I must walk! I need to walk,' he repeated to himself. He watched his feet.By sheer willpower, he moved his feet on their own. He managed to jerk his feet and felt little cramps. He kneaded his knees and legs. He rubbed and pinched them. He felt a twinge of pain when his fingers squeezed the muscles. He pounded and pummeled forcefully.'For Gillian, I need to walk!'* * *When Gillian opened her eyes, it was late afternoon. She slept for hours!She scrambled to get up and crawled on the bed. Rye was nowhere.'Rye?' she