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“Reynolds?” Poe whispered His hand tightened around Moran’s wrist with unbelievable strength, quivering with urgency “Reynoldstell me that you’ve come at last”

The doctor sed He wet his lips, which fought to forar Your physician As I’m sure you remember”

Poe’s face contorted His eyes squeezed shut His uish He released the doctor, his grip falling li the blackest despair, “that you would leave me here Like this”

“Edgar,” Moran whispered, “I wish only to help Can you tell me what happened? Can you tell me how you came to be in Baltimore?”

“But I aainst the da turned shallow and quick A shudder ran through hi the bed itself to tremble

Moran frowned at his patient and groped for what next to say, for whatever words ht keep Poe’s mind present, distracted fro through the walls in swirls of black smoke “Mr Poe, you mentioned yesterday that you had a wife In Richmond Can you tell me—”

“Almost,” Poe whispered “Almost But then, Reynolds, I have a wife” With these words, he traced his fingertips lightly across his chest, over a place where a portion of his shirt lay open “Here All the while,” he murmured “Locked within this feverish heart All the while”

“Who is this Reynolds you speak of?” Moran asked “A friend, perhaps?”

“Perhaps,” Poe replied, his hand falling away as he fixated on the ceiling “We shall see The shadows gather Can you hear the And so we shall see”

Poe’s eyes greider then, their centers expanding, black as pitch

Moran watched, transfixed He had treated delirium many times before But as it about this lance at the barren walls that encircled the there?

gue

Washington University Hospital Baltimore

October 7, 1849

“Edgar?”