fingers touched, I began to cry.
"Don't cry, Annie. We're here."
They were here, really here? I feasted my eyes
on them the way someone lost on a deserted island
might feast her eyes on her rescuers, half in disbelief,
half in overwhelming joy. It was as if a wonderful
light had come into this dreary suite, as if bars had
been lifted from windows and locks unfastened. My
Winnerrow world came rushing through the door,
flooding me with a torrent of memories and wonderful
feelings. Nightmares retreated. I could escape this
madness. My heart burst with joy. Luke hadn't
forgotten me, hadn't deserted me. He had heard my
call. Our love was so strong it would overwhelm
everything in its way. Instantly, I felt my strength
return. I was like a flower that had been shut up in a
dark corner and never watered. Just before it wilted
forever, the prison had been torn away, the light had been permitted to caress it, and loving rain had revived it. It would bloom again. I would bloom
again. Luke and I would be together once more. "Oh, Luke, please . . take me home."
"We will, Annie."
Tony rushed up behind Aunt Fanny.
"Are you satisfied now? Can't you see how sick
she is?" he screamed.
"No, Luke. No. I'm not sick . . , he's making me
sick. He pats medicine in my food that makes me
weak. Don't believe him."
"Jist as I thought . jist as that man said." Aunt
Fanny drew closer to my bed, her face creased with
concern.
"What man, Luke?"