It was dark. Julia could not breathe. She kept hitting the walls, the movements causing her to use her precious supply of air. Even though she knew she should just lie still, she screamed as loud as she could: "William..!"

She woke up in sweats. Darcy, sleeping beside her, was startled awake by her scream. He gathered her in his arms and rocked her gently.

"There…. Julia." He held her for a while. Finally he pulled back and looked at her.

"Do you want an injection to help you sleep?" She quickly said yes. He got up to the dresser and took out a vial. He looked at it and noticed that it was much emptier than it should be. He took in a long breath, looked at his wife and quickly prepared the injection….

Several weeks later, Darcy, sleeping in a separate bedroom, heard Julia's screams through the wall. Again, he thought. It had been nearly two months since his wife had been buried alive and tonight, like every night since, the nightmares had come to her. He quickly went over and tried to wake her.

"Julia. Julia. Wake up. You're dreaming again." He gently tried to shake her, but he could tell the nightmare still had its grips on her. Julia's eyes were open, but were not seeing him. She continued screaming. Darcy became more forceful in his shaking and finally Julia's woke up.

"Darcy? Oh my God Darcy…" She buried herself in his arms. "Hold me please. Hold me."

He gathered her in his arms and held her tight, rocking her gently back and forth, comforting her with both his body and his words.

"Shhhhh….. Shhhhh …..I'm here now." They stayed like that for a long moment and slowly Julia started kissing him, caressing him. Darcy froze. He unwrapped Julia's arms from him and pulled away: "No Julia. No…."

Julia looked at him hurt: "Darcy?"

"I can't Julia. I can't anymore. I love you but I just can't be another one your drugs. I am not even sure if it is me you….." Darcy did not finish his sentence. He took a long breath and continued:

"Julia this has got to stop. You are getting worse. The drinking, the injections…."

Julia started denying it, but Darcy would not relent.

"No Julia. You know I am right. This has gone on too long. You have to snap out of it. Gilles has been found guilty. It's over. You have to move on…"

Julia, her head bowed whispered…: "I'm trying Darcy. I really am, but I can't. Each night, I am afraid to fall asleep. The nightmares are always there."

Darcy had a sad look on his face as he started speaking again: "They are only dreams Julia. It's been two months. I've done all I can, but I don't know how to help you anymore. You have to help yourself. Try to rest. I can stay and hold you if you want."

Julia refused: "I won't be able to sleep now. I'll just get up." Darcy sadly looked at his wife as she left him.

Darcy was absolutely right. She knew the danger was over, but somehow her subconscious mind refused to believe it and each night the nightmares returned. She went downstairs to the kitchen to prepare a pot of tea. The morning newspaper had already been delivered and she settled herself down to read it. The front page story froze the blood in her veins

"Convicted Murderer Gilles to Hang Next Month."

The journalist went to explain that Gilles would be moved to the Don jail where he would spend the last few weeks of his life as he awaiting hanging. Even though Julia knew that she should stop reading, she did not. She read it all, and for the longest time just stayed there, staring blindly in front of her. She got up and went to the liquor cabinet. The drink was half poured when she realized what she was doing. For goodness sake, it's morning, she thought. She heard Darcy move upstairs and quickly went back to the kitchen. She was bringing a tray of fresh tea to the dining room when he walked in.

"Julia. You do not have to do that. Lilly is here for that."

Julia smiled back at him. "It's fine Darcy. Lilly is busy preparing breakfast and I was up anyway….."

Darcy sat down and poured himself a cup. He stayed silent for a few moments and finally said:

"I'm sorry about last night Julia, but you must realize that you need to do something."

Julia put her head down and whispered: "I know Darcy. I know. I' m trying, but I just can't. I hurt. I hurt everywhere and I don't know how to make it stop."

"But you'll have to Julia." He answered. "Have a quiet day today. Do not go to work." With that he got up. Just as he was about to leave the room, he turned to her: "I won't need dinner tonight. I have a hospital board meeting".

Julia watched him leave. She just sat there sitting like a statue until Lilly walked in with a tray. Julia looked up to her:

"I'm so sorry Lilly. I'm not hungry this morning and Dr. Garland has already left." The young maid tried to get her to eat:

"But Mrs. Garland. Please you must. You hardly eat these days."

Julia shook her head and left the dining room. She wandered around the house. The day ahead of her stretched like an eternity. Maybe she could visit William today? She went upstairs to get dressed.

Thomas Brackenried was having his morning tea when he saw Julia walk in. He looked at his wall clock….seven thirty.! Murdoch was not even here yet. He walked out to the main room and called out:

"Doctor. What a pleasant visit. " Thomas gestured to Mudoch's office assuming correctly that Julia was here to see the detective: "He's not here yet. I have some fresh tea…."

Julia turned to him: "Thank you Inspector. That would be wonderful."

They walked into Brackenried's office and sat down. Thomas had not seen the younger woman since that terrible day in the cemetery. He looked at her closely. As he had suspected, the event had had lasting effects on her.

Julia was nervous. She felt as though the Inspector was seeing right through her. She had to say something.

"Inspector.. I should have done it sooner, but I never did thank you for what you did that day…your discretion…. " She looked at William's office. " ... I know you…"

Julia did not really know how to put it all into words. How does a married woman explain that all she had wanted that day was to stay forever in the arms of a man who was not her husband? She looked at Thomas and by the look in look in his eyes, she knew he understood.

He smiled: "It was nothing Doctor." He did not need to ask her how she was doing. Looking at her was his answer. He searched for a way to explain, but could not. How does someone talk of a pain he cannot describe? Just as he was about to attempt it, George walked in:

"Doctor. The detective just arrived .."

Julia sensing the Inspector understood more than she cared to admit saw an escape and took it as quickly as she could. She muttered some thanks to the Inspector and walked over to William's office.

William looked at Julia with concern. In the two month since that fateful day at the cemetery, he had not ceased to worry about her. And now here she was looking so lost, so vulnerable.

"….Julia. Are you sure? You look… " Julia did not allow him finish. She looked at William and lied: "I'm completely fine William…."