Alexander and Eliza, now married. You remember meeting him the first time. You loved him on the spot but he chose Eliza instead. But you know he loved you more. Eliza just had money. Today, he arrives at your door, a decade after the wedding. You haven't seen him since then and forgot about him. You answer the door and immediately remember and fall for him again. He looks like a mess. He clearly hasn't slept in a week or more. You talk softly. "Are you okay? You don't look good." He looks at you slowly. You are flustered. "I mean-- you do-- you don't look-- um. You don't look healthy."

You study his eyes. "You are going to fall asleep standing up." His eyes look down. "No, I won't, as it is said... 'Sleep is for the week'..." You can see his hands shaking and feel him straining to hold his body up. You take him by the arm. He doesn't seem to notice. You decide to test him. You stomp your foot. Hard. He snaps. "Ack!" He stands upright for a moment and falls back into the same posture. In the moment he looked at you, you could see the wild look in his eyes. He is whimpering now. "I can't go to sleep, I can't take a break." You are holding him up now. You talk to him. "You should take a break. How long have you been awake for?" He talked as though to himself. "I have to get this plan through congress..."

You talk sternly, as though to a child. "How. Long?" He continues whispering. "Over a month." You stare at him. "How are you alive?" Before he can answer, he collapses to the ground.

You carry him inside. It's easy, he's surprisingly light. You carry him to a guest bedroom and place him in the bed. He doesn't stir. You go about your business for a while, waiting for him to wake up.