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Lizzie couldn't sleep.
She tossed and turned, missing Joel dearly. Their bed seemed so much emptier whenever he was gone, like he was tonight.
Lizzie had awoken the morning prior to find that Joel had disappeared. She knew, though she didn't know how she knew, that he had been taken to a new Life game. Lizzie was surprised she hadn't gone as well this time, considering she had joined him in the previous games. She grumbled about this puzzling question internally before rolling over again to try and fall asleep
Lizzie knew all about the games, of course, considering she herself was a part of them, but she was still nervous. Her husband has assured her that after his win in the previous game, he would be awarded a few privileges the other non-winners would not. Lizzie wondered if not being there was one of them.
Lizzie sighed, "I guess he just wanted to keep me safe. "
Although she knew Joel would eventually return from the games, or at least she hoped he would, but she didn't know when. Some games, like Double Life, had only lasted a few weeks, while others, like Limited life, lasted over two months. For Lizzie, it wasn't the knowledge that her husband was fighting without her by his side that mattered, although the dark visions of Joel locked in combat caused her to shiver, it was the uncertainty of never knowing what was going on with him. She never knew if he was alone, if he was in pain, or if he had enough to eat or somewhere to sleep.
Lizzie buried her head in her pillow and lightly sobbed, before finally sinking into a restless sleep, hoping her husband was alright.