Love Songs Read Online Free PDF

she paused for a breath, her expression softening, “there’s insomnia—the inability either to fall asleep at all or to fall back to sleep once awoken. Of the fifty million Americans afflicted with sleep troubles, thirty million have insomnia.”
    “Of which I am one.”
    “Unfortunately, yes.”
    “What causes it?”
    Ellen sighed. “There may be any number of causes. A few are physical—but the physical exam Dr. Ramirez, our neurologist, gave you when you came in two weeks ago ruled out any gross physical problem. You’re in excellent health.” Her eyes fell to the folder opened on her desk. “You don’t smoke?”
    “No.”
    “Drink?”
    “Other than the occasional cocktail or glass of wine, no.”
    “Take any medication to help you sleep?”
    “No.” She spoke softly, almost apologetically. “I hate to take pills, period. I like to think that I have enough internal discipline to overcome any minor headaches.” Her smile held regret. “Unfortunately, I don’t have the discipline to control this problem.”
    “You will,” Ellen assured her confidently. “That’s what we’ll be working on here.”
    Now they were down to the immediate situation. “What will I be doing?”
    “Well, we have two weeks to work with. Fourteen nights. You are free of other obligations for that stretch, aren’t you?”
    Alanna answered easily. “I had several engagements, but after Dr. Ramirez called I was able to reschedule them.”
    “Good.” The psychologist nodded. “Since we’ll be concentrating on behavior modification, it’s important to have the time. But,” she paused, “let me backtrack a bit before I explain the specifics. The IAT—Insomnia Analysis and Treatment—study is a far-reaching one. We’ve identified many different types of people with insomnia. Your group, with its own specific characteristics, is only one.”
    Alanna couldn’t help but quote what she’d learned earlier. “Executives. Under pressure. Between the ages of thirty and forty-five.”
    “Ah, you’ve been prompted?” Ellen grinned, not at all bothered.
    “I met a fellow named Alex Knight in the cafeteria.”
    Ellen’s grin broadened. “Yes, Alex. His family has been wonderful to us.”
    “So I gather.” She also wondered whether Alex Knight had been wonderful to Ellen Henderson, then chided herself for her cattiness. She held her tongue as Ellen continued.
    “He does know his facts. Those are the basic qualifications. The theory is that you people—we have four of you here at a time—suffer from insomnia as a result of the pressures you face relating to your careers. All of you are single, which rules out marital tension. All of you live alone, which rules out a bedmate who may disturb your sleep with snoring, restlessness, nightmares—that sort of thing.”
    Alanna ingested it all, yet her mind rushed on. “Why is the study being done here? Why the necessity of sleeping at the hospital?”
    “It’s a good question, and one I’ve had to answer repeatedly. What with hospital costs, you’d think this to be extravagant. I admit that it may be unorthodox, but if the field is to make significant advances, this type of study is a must. You see,” she went on, “we’ll be trying to control your environment, to keep that much more accurate an eye on your surroundings and sleep habits than we might be able to do if you were at home.”
    Alanna’s thoughts shifted to the conversation she’d had with the neurologist and she felt a twinge of unease. “Dr. Ramirez mentioned some very complicated-sounding monitoring devices. Am I in for something awful?”
    “No!” Ellen’s appreciative laughter was instantly reassuring. “Tonight will be the only night you’ll be wired up—”
    “Wired up?”
    “Nothing to worry about.” Again the psychologist soothed her. “We’ll be monitoring your brain waves, your heart rate and your body temperature.”
    Alanna’s brow furrowed. “I’m not sure I understand. If