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The first thing Gregor heard was the beeping. Loud and insistent, the electronic noise was so irritating it had worked itself into his dream. He’d been having the most wonderful dream, distinct as daylight, in which he was visited by someone vaguely familiar. A woman, standing at the end of his bed. But she was more specter than flesh, scented of nighttime and the outdoors, silent as that damned beeping was not. She’d drifted to the beside, surrounded him in calming, cool mist, murmured his name into his ear, then other things. Lovely things. “Rest, old friend. Heal. We’ll see each other again soon.” But the beeping wouldn’t let up, and finally the beautiful vision had disappeared, only to be replaced by the sight of a room, eye-wateringly bright when he opened his eyes. He squinted aga
- Writer
