February 20th, 1980
Lou called me yesterday to tell me that Richard was in intensive care at Georgetown University Hospital. He was admitted Sunday– unconscious and hemmoraging from his mouth. Alcoholism. I called the hospital this morning and the nurse said that the bleeding had stopped– although a tube had been inserted into his stomach to provide drainage.
Tonight he called to say that Richard’s condition has taken a bad turn. I sit cross-legged on my bed with inane television yammering– watching the phone. Wondering if I am about to get a call saying that Richard is dead. My lover dead. Hunched over with a sprained back from exercising and a case of flu that I woke up with today. The time has come to summon my Lillian Hellman personality to take over. Art did not call me and Wendy is staying in New York tonight.