Page 351

Bed Of Leaves
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Chapter 25 - Page 351 - Jim And Rhasha's Big Event

   Rhasha looked at the spot where Jim normally slept. She couldn't see him, but she knew he was there. She placed her right leg across the spot where Jim's legs usually were, and stretched her hand out, as she had when she'd rested it on his chest every night. Then she closed her eyes and pretended Jim was alive and sleeping next to her. She forced a smile.

   She couldn't feel Jim's legs under hers and she couldn't feel his chest under her hand. Rhasha burst into tears. She knew Jim's body wasn't there. She wasn't even sure his spirit was.

   In the next room, Rhasha's parents heard her crying. It hurt them to hear their daughter suffering. They tried to go into her room, but the door was locked. Thasha was worried. "Rhasha," she yelled, "are you okay?"

   Rhasha wiped her eyes. "Yes, Mama," she called, "but I need to be alone."

   Thamish and Thasha knew Rhasha would have to deal with Jim's death in her own way. They said good night and returned to their bedroom.

   Rhasha continued to lay in her usual position. Intuition told her Jim's spirit was lying next to her. She didn't sleep at all, sensing Jim's spirit was talking to her and loath to miss hearing even one chance word. Jim was speaking to her, except for the times she talked to him, but she didn't hear.

   Several times through the night, Rhasha prayed to God. She told him she loved him and asked him to take her to heaven.

   The next morning, as the sun poured through Rhasha's bedroom window, she took Jim's imaginary hand in both of hers. She didn't know Jim's spirit covered both her hands with his hands. She pretended she was kissing his forehead. She didn't know Jim's spirit kissed her on the forehead, or that he met her eyes when she pretended to look into Jim's eyes. "Good morning, sunshine," she whispered. "You have very pretty eyes."

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