Chapter 10

"So Amy…we can set you up on the couch.  It's a pull-out so it should be okay" Dr. Brown said.

"I wanna help!!!" Delia said as she came running in and immediately hugged her father.

"Hi sweety.  Did you have fun at Nina's?"

"Yup.  We made brownies and I brought some home for you and Ephram…and Amy too"

Amy smiled, as Delia didn't want her to feel left out.

"Sounds good.  Delia, why don't you go get a nice blanket from the closet for Amy"

"Okay" Delia said cheerily as she ran to the closet.

Ephram was just leaving his room when he found Delia jumping up and down, trying to get a blanket from the closet.

"Hey squirt, how was Nina's?"

"It…was…good" Delia said as she was still jumping up and down.

"Let me help" Ephram said as he pulled out a blanket and handed it to Delia.

"Thanks Ephram!" she said as she ran off again.

***

The four set up the bed for Amy and got her settled in. 

"This is kind like a slumber party, right Daddy?" Delia asked.

"Well not really hunny"

"Can I stay in here with Amy? Please…"

"Actually Delia, why don't you come with me.  We can have some brownies and milk if you'd like."

"But I want to stay with Amy" she whined.

"I think we should let Amy and Ephram talk for a little while, ok?"

"But they had all night to talk!"

"Delia…" he said seriously.

"Fine" she said as she rose from the bed and followed her father inside.

***

"You don't look to good," he said looking at her saddened face.

"I just want to know that they're okay.  Right now, every single person that I care about is out there somewhere, and I don't know where.  Except for you Ephram" she said looking right into his eyes.

"I'm sure everything will fall into place.  It'll be fine, I promise," he said as he rested his hand on top of hers.

"I hope you're right"

"Just think…the sooner you fall asleep, the sooner this will all be over with"

"But what if I don't want this to all be over with Ephram?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I like talking to you.  Love talking to you.  You actually make sense.  When you say things you just don't say them to say them, they make sense and have meaning.  That's why when you tell me that everything will be okay, I believe it"

"I hope I wont fail you"

"You could never fail me Ephram," she said looking right into his eyes.  They sat in silence, staring into one another's eyes, until Ephram looked away and broke the silence.

"I think I'm going to go to sleep now, it's getting late"

"Yeah…probably a good idea"

"My room's right over there" he said pointing to a door a couple of feet away from the bed, "Feel free to come in if you need anything…I'll leave the door open"

"Thanks" she said quietly as he got up and left.

Amy couldn't sleep that night.  She kept on thinking about her father and mother, and even Bright too.  She wanted to know where they were.  When the thoughts finally left her head and she thought she might just fall asleep, she started to think about Colin.  And before she could help it, she felt the tears rolling down her cheeks.

Ephram couldn't sleep either.  He was listening to Amy's cries, trying to decide if he should go inside to talk to her or let her be alone for a few minutes.  He put on his headphones and listened to some music, hoping that it would help him fall asleep.  About twenty minutes later, he felt a tap on his shoulder.  He took off his headphones, opened his eyes, and looked up to find Amy standing above him.  Her face was wet and covered with tears.

"Come here" Ephram said as he tapped the side of is bed, motioning for her to sit.  Ephram sat up, leaning against the wall. 

"I don't know what to do" Amy said as the tears continued to run down her face.

"About what?"

"Everything…my parents, Bright, Colin.  Everything is just falling apart," she said as she tried to hold everything in.  She tried…really she did, but it just didn't work.  There were to many unsolved problems floating around in her head.  She broke down and soon found herself sobbing on Ephram.

"Shhh, shhh.  It'll be okay" Ephram coaxed as he stroked her hair.

"Will it?" she said loudly.  A minute later when she realized she was taking her anger and frustation out on him, she apologized.

"Sorry Ephram, I'm just really upset," she said looking up at his face.

"I know, I've come to learn that when people are that upset, you shouldn't really care about anything they say"

"Really? Who told you that?" Amy asked.

"I picked it up from myself.  I can be a pretty big ass when I'm upset"

"Hope I'll never have to see that side of you Ephram" Amy said as she yawned and scooted up so that she was lying beside him.

"Amy…actually, why don't you keep my bed and I'll take the pull-out?" he said as he started to get up.

"Wait!" Amy said as she put her hand across his stomach, preventing him from getting up, "Please just stay here with me"

"Amy, what is my dad going to say if he wakes up to two 16 year olds in the same bed?"

"Please Ephram" she said with a pout on her face, "I'll tell him whatever he'll want to hear, as long as you stay with me"

"Okay" he said sighing as he scooted down in his bed so that he was level with Amy.

"Thank you" she said as she, for the final time, wiped the tears from her face.

Ephram extended his arm out so that Amy could be comfortable.  She moved in and fit perfectly next to his side, with Ephram's arm wrapped tightly around her.