These Dreams of You

~ ~ ~

Sheba looks at Viv and wordlessly crosses the room to her, puts a small arm around her for a moment as Viv pulls her closer whispering her name. Then the child pulls Viv by the hand over to the bedside. Staring at the woman who clearly is delirious, Viv can’t know that once this woman transmitted music of her own, because it’s gone completely quiet: “My God,” she hears James behind her, “how long do you suppose she’s been like this?”

“She needs a doctor right away,” says Viv.

“The woman downstairs said she called for one this morning.”

“It’s her,” says Viv, “isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“Isn’t it? Doesn’t she look like. . the woman in the photo?” by which Viv means almost dead.

“Yes.”

Viv turns to him. “Do you have it?”

“Sorry?”

“The photo?”

Reaching inside his coat, then to the other inside pocket, James murmurs, “It’s here somewhere,” checking the outer pockets, then patting his pants pockets. Then he checks the coat again. “After all, it didn’t just disappear.”