INNER-SANCTUM

A dim lamp burned on the night stand to the right side of the bed. The light given off by the lamp sent shadows about the opulent bedroom casting a glow over the ornamental woods of the bed post and the various pieces of furniture populating the large room. There were many more rooms in this large estate house filled with opulent and unique pieces. The house spoke of success from every corner of its being.

She felt him toss and roll around again on his side of the bed. He was restless, as usual. The earlier love-making session had done little to drain his energy level. She could tell that he was having difficulty finding that magic moment at which sleep would gently overtake him and offer a few hours of restful peace. It was this way almost every night; the restlessness, the fight to get some rest. It was as if the demons came to haunt him when the sun would set.

She was only one in a long line of females who had populated his life over the years. Success had brought them to him in droves truth be known. In many ways, he seemed to be above it all and brushed it away ever so gently picking and choosing his way seemingly in control of his destiny. He had been married once and so had she. Both of their marriages had ended in disaster and left each of them longing for the romance and companionship of a strong relationship. For that reason, she felt she was different than the other women who had come and gone in his life. He had seen success; earned large sums of money; had been lauded with accolades touting his talents and ability. Yet, for all of that, he could not seem to find the love that he so very much wanted from life. She felt it was his time and she knew she was his woman. Things would be different for them.

Suddenly he sat up on the edge of the bed and waved his arms in disgust. She reached over and rubbed his back attempting to let him know that she understood his frustration while remaining silent. He preferred the silence when things were like this. Both of them understood the situation and there was no need to talk about it anymore to any great length. He felt that he could work through things and adjust and she was just trying to show her confidence in his ability to do that; to support him in his efforts. Finally, he stood up and walked into the bathroom closing the door behind him.

She lay there in the silence of the dimly lit bedroom listening to the noises he made in the bathroom. She could hear the sounds of the drawer opening where he kept the pills. She heard the water briefly run just enough to place a swallow or two into a glass. Then the bathroom door opened and he came back across the room to the bed. As he lay down on his side, she placed an arm around him and let it rest there hoping that she could comfort him a bit until the effects of the pill took hold and brought him that precious sleep which he prized so much and yearned for each night. She felt his hand reach up and softly touch the fingers of her hand in silent acknowledgement that he was glad she was there for him.

She thought back over the months since they had first met. A chance meeting that was totally unplanned had brought them together. For all her dreams of finding happiness and someone that she could really love, this was something she could have never dreamed for herself. In a matter of days, she was thrown into a whirlwind world that totally picked her up and took her away from almost everything she had known. Her lifestyle had totally changed and everything she had experienced thus far in life seemed to be far in the distance behind her. For some, she thought, that might be a concern but not for her. Her life had long since been in a rut when he came along. She was swept off her feet and still had to pinch herself from time to time to make sure that all of this was not a dream.

She smiled to herself thinking that not only had she found true love but also a man steeped in success who could provide a lifestyle that was beyond her anything she could dream up. Whatever she wanted, he seemed to be able to make it happen. When business called for travel, she went along and enjoyed all the high living associated with the trip. It was like a fairy tale come true, she was truly living in the inter-sanctum in this new life of hers. She also loved every minute of it.

He had become still and his breathing was rhythmic. Her experience told her that the pill had finally done its job and sleep had overcome him. She pulled her arm away and rolled over to her left side quickly reaching up to the lamp and turning out the light. The room was now much darker and the silence was only broken by the light whisper of his sleep breathing. She fluffed her pillow once more hoping to gain some sleep herself. She lay there staring toward the shadows that played off the wall from the window on her side of the bedroom. Soon sleep had overcome her as well and she rested in the comfort of this lavish new life she lived.

Hours passed. Then she was awake. She glanced at the small illuminated clock face sitting on the night stand. It read 4:15 AM. Had something awakened her, possibly a noise or a flashing light? She had no sense of any such occurrence. This was unusual. Normally, when she feel asleep she stayed that way until well into the morning hours, effortlessly. Now she was suddenly awake and it seemed so strange. She rolled to her right side to check on him. He was not there. She rolled onto her back and raised her head off the pillow enough to see that there was light coming from beneath the bathroom door. She listened for the familiar sounds but heard nothing; no drawers opening, no water running, no commodes flushing, nothing. For a while she lay there wide awake and continued to listen but her ears were only met with silence.

Unable to hold back her curiosity any longer rose up from the bed, turned on the bedside lamp, then slowly arose and began walking toward the bathroom door. She gently called his name so as not to startle him as he would not expect her to be awake at this time. There was no reply. She approached the bathroom door and took the knob in hand. The door was unlocked as the knob turned easily under the pressure of her hand. She slowly pushed it open and then quickly looked around the edge of the door hoping that he would see her first and not be startled. Her eyes quickly caught sight of his crumpled mass lying lifeless on the cold tile of the bathroom floor.

Every corner of the lavish estate house heard the cries emitting from her mouth as she too crumpled to the bathroom floor screaming out his name, “Elvis! Elvis!”

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