It was almost too much for me to bear as I watched theblack man from the bathroom coming toward our table.Maybe he had a chance after all.“My na...e is Malcolm, pretty lady. Your husband said Icould dance with you.”Miriam looked over at me with a puzzled smile beforeturning back to the black man.“Why, yes,” Miriam said to the Negro. “I’d love todance with you.”I was kind of surprised that Miriam danced with a totalstranger, especially one who was black.. “Wrap your arms around me.”“What?” Hailey asked, but she did as he ordered. He lifted her off the sink and carried her to the bedroom. Hailey expect him to deposit her on the bed – and then leave a fresh deposit in her. Instead he glanced at the clock and saw it was barely past 7 a.m. No one would be awake. He opened the door and carried her into the hallway.“Phil!” Hailey said in a whisper.“Shh,” Phil insisted. “You don’t want an audience, do you?”“Not unless you do,” Hailey answered. She. I just do." I know," I hugged him. "I felt so lonely for a moment. I was trying to convince myself that I was dead and for just a second it felt like I was." I didn't know if I could explain this, but I was so excited that I had to try. "I felt nothing at all and my heart ... It stopped, I think."My husband looked at me."What?" I asked, giggling and feeling foolish."I don't want you to die." I know that, we're just ... Pretending, right?" I kissed him.Whatever epiphany I'd experienced that. I bend down and our lips met both mouths slightly apart I wouldn’t say there was a nuclear explosion but it was close. I don’t know how long we kissed it seemed to go on for ever.As we parted I heard Chris say I love you Frank I replied “I love you too Chris”saying those words I realised I did love her.On the aircraft going home I sat next to Chris with Mom sitting by the window Chris gripped my hand and arm it seemed she was frightened to let go I saw Mom look a few times but she didn’t say.