Comic Title: Essential Vertigo:The Sandman #16
Publisher: DC
Imprint: Vertigo
Cover Date: November 1997
On Sale Date: September 10, 1997 Direct Market Date September 10, 1997
Source: Previews, Vol. 7 #7 (#103)

Direct Market Date September 10, 1997
Source: ComicList, Diamond : New Comic Book Releases List for Wednesday, September 10, 1997

Shipping Date September 10, 1997
Source: Comics Buyers Guide, #1243

Cover Price: $1.95
Page Count: 32
Editor: Bob Kahan

Title: "Lost Hearts"
Pages: 24

Feature(s):
Sandman (Morpheus)

Writer: Neil Gaiman
Penciller: Mike Dringenberg
Inker: Malcolm Jones III
Letterer: Todd Klein
Colorist: Robbie Busch

Reprinted From:
Sandman #16 (1990)

Feature Character(s)

• Dream (last appearance in Sandman #15; next appearance in Sandman #17)

Supporting Character(s)

• Rose Walker (last appearance in Sandman #15; no further appearances)
• Matthew (last appearance in Sandman #15; next appearance in Sandman #22)
• Fiddler's Green (aka Gilbert; identity revealed; last appearance in Sandman #15; no further appearances)

Villain(s)

• Desire (last appearance in Sandman #10; next appearance in Sandman #21)

Other Character(s)

• Unity Kinkaid (dies in this story; last appearance in Sandman #15; no further appearances)
• Miranda Walker (last appearance in Sandman #15; no further appearances)
• Jed (last appearance in Sandman #15; no further appearances)

Comments:
The Doll's House Part 7

This story is continued from Sandman #15.

This story officially names two of the unseen Endless: Destiny and Delirium.

Desire is revealed to have been responsible for impregnating Unity Kinkaid while she was a victim of the sleepy sickness. This makes Desire the father of Miranda and grandfather of Rose Walker. Spilling family blood and "all that would entail" is mentioned.

Rose Walker is revealed to have been best friends with Judy, the lesbian girl who was killed by Dr. Destiny in the diner in Sandman #6. She was even spoken to on the phone in that issue, which makes it her first behind-the-scenes appearance.

Synopsis:
Dream had brought Rose Walker to the Dreaming. He informs her that she is a vortex capable of merging the dreams of every person alive, which if allowed to happen will destroy the world. He is therefore obligated to kill her to prevent this. Matthew and Gilbert then arrive on the scene. Gilbert is revealed to be Fiddler's Green, a place within the Dreaming. Gilbert makes an appeal on Rose's behalf, but Dream is unable to comply with the request to spare her life. Gilbert then becomes Fiddler's Green again.

Before Dream can kill Rose, Unity Kinkaid appears. She is near death in the real world, but has entered the Dreaming while asleep. Unity explains that she was meant to be the vortex, but due to Dream's imprisonment, the vortex passes her by and took root in her granddaughter. She offers to trade herself for Rose by taking the vortex from her. Once done, Unity dies, and the vortex is ended. Rose is allowed to live in peace. Dream rewards Rose by offering to help her comatose brother Jed.

Six months later, Rose is living in Seattle with her mother Miranda and Jed. She never leaves the house. She has learned what became of her former housemates from Hal. After her experience in the Dreaming, she feels that humanity is nothing more than doll's with no control over their own lives. Now, she is ready to move on with her life and rejoin the world.

Meanwhile, Dream confronts Desire. He accuses them of meddling in his affairs. Desire admits to raping Unity Kinkaid while she slept and fathering Miranda. Dream warns them to stay out of his affairs. He also explains that the Endless are instruments, manipulated by humanity. The Endless are humanity's dolls. Desire doesn't agree. They see humans as their play things. They are not dolls, though the final image of Desire in their doll-like house would seem to indicate otherwise.