Ellie's eyes flashed to Henry's. "Any friend of yours is also mine. I would love to meet a new person. Everyone is the same here day after day."

Deul's hand crushed Henry's as he brought him into Ellie's view, "Miss Chen, I'd love for you to meet my old boss's son, Henry Wong. He's in an important position in a big company so he has a lot of money."

Henry blushed as Ellie looked him up and down. "Mr. Wong." She smiled simply and Henry felt something in him jump. Although she couldn't walk properly, there was still strength in her. Her soft chocolate eyes were clear and friendly . . . even deeper was her sadness.

He smiled back with compassion, "So you are the beautiful Ellie Chen. I'm very happy to meet a lady who lent my old friend a helping hand. Everyone I've spoken to in the last few days has told me how you are kind to those in need."

Ellie's smile grew softer. "To be kind is to be a friend. I'd really love to know you more."

Henry realized her eyes were so dilated with the chocolate color due to the large amount of painkillers. He'd seen the same look in crack users out on the streets. What was the nature of her illness that a dosage would need to be so high?

He hadn't expected to find her so compelling that he would choke up upon the idea of taking advantage of her. To look into her beautiful eyes and that simple honesty which penetrated every fiber of her being to say he wanted her to die felt cruel. His throat felt tight, she deserved a lot better than his sorry state of affairs.

Deul could see the conflict in his stance so he deftly said, "Mr. Wong is at a loss for words. He has an interesting idea that he explained to be earlier. I am not your father, but I knew him so I think for the best outcome you should both discuss this in private. I'll help myself back to my room."

Henry rose in protest, but Deul waved him off with a quick determined gait.

Ellie stopped him in his track with her low voice, "Let him go. He's stubborn. I'm more interested in what you have to say. Why don't you sit down? You can have a drink of water from the sink. I'm sorry I can't get up myself to get it and give it to you. I can't get up."

Henry did the movements mechanically and emptied the cup. He set the plastic cup down sharply on the side table before joining his hands together. He decided the best way to go about going so was to copy her simple honest manners. "My father was a man by the name of Conrad Wong. He ran a really big company that traded in commodities called Wong Industries. I helped run it and expand it with him. But instead of leaving the company with me, he left it in trust with my uncle. On the condition that I marry by the age of twenty eight, I get more control of the company. I'm CEO in name only, but I want more say in the direction of what I helped built. My problem is that my birthday is coming up in a few weeks and I haven't popped the question. Uncle Deul mentioned your health and I thought it might work out for both of us if we got married. If you want to . . . I can make sure your brother has money to get him through college. It can be a scholarship or pension, you know, whichever way will benefit him most."

When Henry finished talking, the silence was deafening. Only the sounds of the wheels of an empty gurney rolling by ominously broke the silence. Ellie's blank expression while moisture brimmed in her eyes, bothered Henry, but he wasn't close enough to her to offer her comfort. When she spoke, her soft voice showed only acceptance that her death was not a fate she could avoid. "I am not that pretty so I have some doubt that you don't have women who would love to marry you? Is it not outside the realm that you could find a female friend to do this? I have none of the qualifications of a suitable wife for your social class. A marriage to me would be beneath you."