He came almost running through the door, and nearly tripped when he went to stop. "I am so sorry Bridget." He came over and put his arms around me. "You're so cold."
"I know, I don't know w-what's wrong. I feel so cold and empty." I was shaking even more violently now. "Hold my hand Mr. Wonka." I was becoming delusional. "What's that?"
"What's what?"
"That light over there… its pretty."
"Don't look at it Bridget, just look away."
"But it's so pretty. Can I just go over and…"
"No, you can't." He held me back.
I felt so strange, like I was watching someone else, seeing through someone else's eyes.
"Dad, where's mom?" I was a child again.
"What?"
"Where is mom? Is she outside on the swing again?"
"She's hallucinating. What do I do?"
"I don't know sir; I think this is all caused by a high level of stress, set off by a sudden change in attitude directed towards her. For example, if someone treated her very well and suddenly turned against her in rage, it would bring this on."
"Oh no, this is all my fault! I wish there was something I could do for her. I love her so much."
"Wha… what's going on?" I was no longer a child.
"Bridget, are you ok?"
"I don't know, I feel so strange."
"I'm really sorry; I don't know what to do. I feel so bad; I didn't mean to do that. You are right; it's no excuse to say that I'm under stress. I just want you to know that I don't hate you. I love you so much."
I wasn't cold anymore, I was just weak. "Say that again."
"Say what?"
"Tell me you love me."
"Bridget, you know I love you more than anything in the entire world. I would give up everything just to have you with me, that's how much I love you and care about you."
The more he said it, it seemed, the better I felt. I was re-gaining my strength now, and all I wanted was for him to hold me close to him. He usually knew when I wanted this, so he held me and let me fall into a passionate trance. "I love you too."
"Shhh, don't speak, just relax. You're gonna be alright." He started to stroke my hair with the tips of his fingers, and it put me into a gentle, wonderful sleep.
