"Huh?" He noticed how odd she sounded, and a leadenness grew within him. "You aren't sick, are you?"
"Colin, I—I'm going to be married."
"What?"
"Yes. I'm in love now; really in love. I'll be getting married in a couple of months."
"But—but—"
"I didn't want to hurt you." He heard her begin to cry.
"But who—how—"
"It's Matthew," she gulped. "Matthew Snyder."
He sat quiet for a long while, until she asked if he was still on the line. "Yeah," he said tonelessly. "Yeah, I'm still here, after a fashion." Shaking himself: "Look, I've got to see you. I want to talk to you."
"I can't."