"Hi," she said, her voice as soft and vibrant as ever.

"Karen!"

She was staring, unashamed, at the body George had just fully uncovered. "Wow!" she said.

George scrabbled for the sheets, pulled them over him.

"You should knock," he said, starting to laugh.

She came over to the foot of the bed, and slowly turned around for him. "Well, how about me? Are you disappointed?" Her voice had an intimate, challenging quality.

"Sweetheart," he said slowly, looking at her for what it seemed to George was the first time, "you are lovely. You're more than I ever dreamed. And I don't care what you say or think of me for saying this, but I love you. I've loved you since I first heard your voice. I know it's impossible—no woman could ever knowingly fall in love with me—a freak, a brain in a bottle—but that can't stop me from loving you. Maybe it's just that I'm so happy to have a body again after so long that makes me say this...."

She had come around the corner of the bed, and was sitting on the edge of it now. There were tears in her eyes and her hands were clasped over his. "I know, George," she said slowly, when he had stopped. "I felt the same way as you—when I got my new body—but I didn't have anyone to say it to."

His eyes widened in disbelief. His mouth worked for several seconds before the words would come. "You...."

She nodded slowly. "George, don't you remember many months ago—the night of your accident on the El ... there was a girl on the train with you...."

He stared at her, sudden amazement in his eyes. "Of course I remember—but—you—you mean you are...."

"Yes, George. I'm the same girl—different body, of course. My case wasn't as tough as yours. Your brain was close to death for quite awhile before you regained conscious thought."

He looked at her incredulously. "But you said I was the first to ever go this far...."

Her face was close to his, her lips smiling. "I said you were the first man to pull through. I was praying for you George. 

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