Page 9 of The Life of Anna, Tenth Anniversary Edition, Act 2

He stood at the window again, blond hair pulled back into a low ponytail. The breeze that snuck through the open window caught a few strands of loose hair and twisted them into his neatly trimmed golden beard. His blue denim shirt was untucked from his jeans and his shirtsleeves were rolled up to his elbows. The muscles in his forearms tightened and relaxed as he grasped the windowsill with his big hands.

He sighed and ran his hand through his hair. The ring on his finger caught the sunlight as he did so, and the golden reflection made her blink. He mumbled to himself and turned away from the window. He froze when he saw her.

“ Schatzi ?” His eyes glistened with tears as he stepped toward her. “Anna...” He stopped a few feet away from her, clenching and unclenching his fists as if uncertain of what to do.

She stared at him, knowing he wasn’t real, but wishing with all her heart that he was. “Why did you leave me?” Tears spilled down her cheeks. “Why did you abandon me to him?”

“I am so sorry, Schatzi . I had no idea it was a trap.” His eyes grew earnest and he spoke quickly, as if he knew he only had a few minutes with her. “Anna, I’m real. I’m still here. I will return to you. Please, tell my father I’m here.”

“No!” She shook her head, pushing away the pain in her heart. “No! You’re dead! You abandoned me!” She shook her head and searched desperately for a way out.

“Anna . . .” His voice echoed in her ears.

She felt a brush against her shoulder and the vision faded.

“No!” she screamed and sat up in bed. Her chest heaved as she struggled to breathe. Where am I?

“Anna. Engel .” Warm arms wrapped around her and held her as she trembled.

She shook her head. “I don’t want to dream about him!” She pounded her fists on her legs.

The arms tightened around her. “Shh, it is okay.” He rocked her and held her head. “It is okay. Everything will be alright.”

The bedroom door opened and light spilled in. “What happened? Is she okay?” A shadow walked closer and Wilhelm sat next to her.

“She was talking in her sleep and then she yelled and woke up. It sounded like she was dreaming about Alex.”

“Alex? Anna, did you dream about Alex?”

She nodded. “I don’t want to dream about him,” she sobbed.

Wilhelm put his hand on hers. “What was your dream about?”

“I don’t want to remember.”

“Please tell me, Liebling . I want to know.”

In a halting voice, Anna told him about the room and the man she saw. She didn’t want to say his name. “He said it was... a trap. That he was real and that he would return to me.” She let out a sob. “Why do I have such horrible dreams?” Alex would never return to her. Why did her mind play such tricks?

“Have you dreamed of him before?”

She nodded. “I always sleep with the TV on so the dreams stay away.”

“Did he say anything else, Liebling ?”

Anna swallowed. “He said to tell you that he was there.” She shook her head. “I don’t know why I keep dreaming about him. I hate him.”

There was a long silence, and then she was gently pulled back down onto the bed. “Go back to sleep, Engel . I will turn the TV on.”

The sounds of late night television distracted her and she drifted off into a dreamless sleep.