Alone in her room, Katey waited for Javier to return from his walk. She hoped he was all right. She hoped he was not mad at her. "Stand your ground, Katey," she told herself. She knew that if nothing else, she would return again someday and stay with him.

She waited until early in the morning... She glanced at the clock, one in the morning. Where could he be? She did not know if it was like in America, if she could call the hospitals and police stations and find out if anyone had seen him. So she waited.

An hour later, she was awakened by her hotel phone ringing.

"Javier?" she answered.

"Katey Miller?"

"Yes."

"Do you know a Javier Suarez?"

"Yes, Senor."

"I am sorry to tell you that he was involved in a stabbing today at around three o' clock this afternoon."

"Oh, my God." Her knees gave way and she fell to the floor.

"He has asked us to call you."

"Is he all right? I mean is he?..." she trailed off...

"I think you had better come to the hospital as soon as you can senorita."

"Yes, of course."

The man on the phone gave her the address and she darted out the door.

When she reached the hospital, Katey feared she was too late. She could not find anyone that spoke much English, and her Spanish was not... perfect.

"¿Puedo ayudarle?" a doctor asked her.

"English?" she answered.

"Si."

"I am looking for Javier Suarez. I received a phone call saying he was a patient here. He was stabbed earlier today? I need to find him! Please help me."

"Of course, senorita. Please, wait right here."

The doctor disappeared for a moment and reappeared with a clipboard.

"Please follow me." He said.

He led her to a dark white room.

"In here?" Katey asked the doctor.

"Si." He said grimly.

She walked in to the room slowly. There were other patients in the room, she tried not to look at them, and she thought they were all asleep.

Finally she saw who she thought was Javier laying in a faded, much used bed. Katey walked over to the bed and kneeled down on the floor beside him. She reached for his hand.

"Javier." She breathed, her lips trembling.

He didn't move. "Oh dear", she thought. "Javier don't leave me now. We've been through too much."

She was determined to sit there till he woke up. Meanwhile and orderly explained to her that Javier was attempting to help some children when he was stabbed, and how the entire thing had been a con.

Katey was truly touched, but she knew that was just how Javier was. He would do anything to help, even if it meant his life. He was always thinking of others and was the most selfless person Katey knew.

She prayed silently beside him, watching him exhale, praying he would inhale again, that he would hold on for her. And she desperately wished that there was a way to let him know she was there with him now. And that she loved him.