Julie's fingers closed over my mouth and then she kissed my lips. She said: "Shhh. Let someone else say something. You have kept silent or mostly so for almost four months. It won't kill you to let someone else have something to say will it?"

I grinned at her and said: "I guess not."

Then Dr. Gilmer spoke and he said: "I'm going to ask everyone to go outside for a few minutes, until I check you over. If you are sound, then I will let them come in and see you again. Julie wants to be with you when you sit up for the first time. O.K.?" I nodded at him and they began to file out with the exception of the nurse who stayed to be sure I remained still. She sat at the bedside with my hand in hers and kept my attention. I felt him check my heartbeat and pulse, and then he moved to my head. He turned it from one side to the other, asking if I experienced any discomfort or dizziness. I didn't.

A few minutes more of examination and he said "Everything seems to be perfect," he announced. “I can't say that it is all over, but you've healed amazingly fast. You can get up for a little while several times today. More tomorrow, and increase it a little each day for the rest of the week. If no trouble crops up by next Monday, you can leave the hospital for a ride each day. If all goes well, Monday week, I'll let you be discharged. We are going to leave the room when Miss Langdon comes in, and she will help you up. She deserves that privilege. She's sat with you every day since you checked in."

i heard the nurse as she opened the door and called Julie in. A mo- ment more and she was at my side, excitedly, and impatiently demand- ing the results of his examination. "Just perfect, Julie," he answered. "The rest is up to you." With that he and the nurse left.

She stood and looked at me for a moment and tears streamed out of her eyes. "Oh my darling," she said, "I'm so happy that you stayed with us." She clutched my hand and I felt the pressure of her grasp. She kissed me once more. “Are you ready to get up?”

I looked up into her eyes. "Did they .

•

I mean am I.

•

my body?"

She said: "You're very, very pretty."

"But am I a .. What am I now? I recognize you as Julie, and I feel my love for you just as I did before I went away."