Just then, she heard a knock at the door. "Laura?" the familiar voice said. "Are you okay?"
Laura got up and threw her robe on, unlatching the door. "John," she cried, as she threw her arms around him.
"What is it?" he asked, feeling her sweaty body in his hands and liking what he felt.
"It was a man," Laura said, still near hyperventilating. "He's been following me."
"What?" John said, obviously alarmed. "What man? What are you talking about?"
"In my dream," Laura began, "I saw the man who I keep seeing everywhere; the man who's following me."
John held her close, "It's only a dream, love, it's only a dream."
"Yes, but the man is someone who I saw earlier. He's following me."
"Where exactly have you seen him?" John asked.
"In England, London ... at the train station," Laura said.
"Well maybe you're just having a bad dream, that's all," John said.
"...and here," Laura continued.
"And here? What do you mean?"
"I saw him here, in Ireland, too."
"In Cork? Today?"
"No, in Dublin, the first day I was there," Laura said.
"You must be imagining things, love," John said. "You don't know anybody in the UK except for me and your friend, right?"
"Right, but.... "Laura said.
"Now, let's just rest your pretty head about it then," John said, hugging her tightly and then letting go, about to leave the room.
"John?" Laura asked.
"Yes?"
"Could you just stay a while and hold me?"
John hated the fact she was scared, but he loved that she needed him and was not afraid to show it. "There'd be no place on earth I'd rather be than right here with you," he said.
They lie on the bed, arms wrapped around each other, until John heard the deep, even breathing of sleep coming from his new friend.
)
