K." So we went over to the hospital, and my momwas waiting for us in the ICU. "How is he doing?" asked Allison's mom."The same," said my mother, "Phys...cally, he is healing, but he... Justwon't wake up." That made sense to me, as my spirit wasn't in that body at the momentto operate it. I hugged my mother, and asked, "What are they going todo?" "We may have to make some hard choices if he doesn't make someprogress soon. " My mom said. I shook, and realized they were talkingabout letting my body. " He helped her sit up. "Both your mother and Lady Esmerelda said it would take time for you to regain your full strength." Will you stand by me?" Yes." He stared into her eyes. "Without a doubt." Forever?" Forever."Clara stepped into the High Priestess chambers and knelt. "You wished you see me your reverence?"The High Priestess handed Clara a scroll. "This arrived this morning, addressed to you."Clara accepted the scroll and unrolled it."My darling Clara,By the time you read this, I will be. I argued half heartedly but they were insistent. Ibecame worried that they had told others of their plan. Renee and Dawn bothtold me they wouldn't do that as they valued my friendship. As we gotdrinks I tried to explain that I wasn't gay. They weren't buying it andtold me that they knew I was into men. I finally saw this as a chance toopen up about my secret. I made them swear to never talk about what I wasgoing to tell them. They both promised that it would remain a secret aslong as I wanted. “Hi stranger,” Lori said. “Some of us are starting to wonder if you’re still alive.”“What do you mean? Of course I am!” I replied.I probably sounded a bit pissed off, this was the first time she had bothered to talk to me in weeks, and she started by poking fun at me.“Hey, just joking,” she said. “Look, we got the new boat the other week, and I was wondering if you want to come out in it, see how it rides this Sunday. Sailing doesn’t start for another two weeks, and I thought you’d want to see.