John replied, ‘Yes. Yes, it’s me Paula.’

Paula asked, ‘John?’

John said, ‘Yeah.’

Paula asked what happened in the fire. John took her slowly through what Emily told him and Philip. Paula remembered seeing Franzi on the stretcher and wanted to know where she was.

John said, ‘Paula. Franzi is unconscious. She is on a respirator.’ Paula started to cry but John kept talking slow. ‘A tech held her hand after she was shocked. It was how she could tell if there were any impulses in the body.’

Paula repeated, ‘The body?’ Sniffing her tears back, Paula felt numb saying those two words. John realized he might’ve  wanted to use a little more tact.

John said, ‘I meant "Franzi". I’m sorry.’ John didn’t mean to sound cold or uncaring but he continued, ‘She inhaled a lot of smoke and they had to clear her lungs out. They also had to massage her heart to get it beating on its own.’

Paula interrupted, ‘They cut her open!?’

John said, ‘The doctors had to clear the smoke and gas out of her system.’

Paula said, ‘I have to go and see her.’ Then she tried to move herself out of bed but John held her back.

John said, ‘You can’t see her now. She’s still in the ICU under observation. They’re not letting anybody in.’

Paula struggled and said, ‘I don’t care. I need to see her, John.’ With Paula getting excited, John told her that maybe she could see Franzi in a day or two after they had a chance to recover. But that only made her resolve stronger.

Paula said, ‘Then let me look through her window. I don’t care!’

Paula tried to jump out of bed at lightning speed. John got a grip on her arms when she was on her knees atop the bed.

John said, ‘Paula. Paula. Listen to me. She’s lying in bed now in the ICU. Do you hear me? She’s alive.’

Paula said, ‘Take me to her right now. Do you hear me? You gotta take me to her!’

John said, ‘You can’t go see Franzi right now! You have to rest.’

Paula said, ‘I don’t want to rest! I want to be with Franzi, damnit!’ Then two orderlies came into the room to hold Paula down for her own safety while a doctor put her under sedation.