The phone rings, and the machine picks up.  Carmen’s voice is heard in the living room…”hey guys, are you there?  I thought we were going to get together tonight and visit Tina, but I guess you’re not there, so I’ll try back later.”  Shane doesn’t move a mussel.  She continues to hold Jenny who’s still crying.

 

A few moments later Shane’s cell phone rings in the kitchen, and with a still shaky, low voice Jenny manages “you should get that.” 

 

Shane: “Nah it’ll stop in a minute.”

 

Jenny: “but she’s your girlfriend and I’m sure you want to go see her…go ahead, I’ll be okay.”

 

Shane reaches down and gently tilts Jenny’s face up to look at her “no, it doesn’t matter….you’re more important, and I’m not going anywhere….because there’s no place else I’d rather be than right here with you.”  She softly brushes a finger over Jenny’s cheek to wipe away the moist tears then gently lowers Jenny’s head back down to rest on her chest.

 

She fully knew that she meant those words, but was beginning to realize she didn’t only mean them, but also felt them somewhere deep within.  She begins thinking to herself “is she becoming or maybe already become my closest friend?  I feel more at ease with her than anyone else more like I could open up to her like she’s done with me.  I’ve never felt like that before because I know everyone would judge me poorly for the things I’ve done, but *****, she probably would too…they can never know, but still there’s a closeness I can’t explain.  We both have our own scarred souls, I guess they’re just trying to reach out to the other for some version of comfort and acceptance.”  She hold Jenny a little tighter, a little closer to comfort her and assure her that she’s not going anywhere, and realizes that she feels a comfort in this as well.

 

They sit quietly for a while longer till Shane breaks the silence, “can I ask you a question?”  Jenny nods her head slightly.  Shane: “did you tell anyone…your parents?” 

 

Jenny: “not exactly…I tried to tell my mom that night, but she never said a word…she just cleaned me up, put me to bed and told me not to speak a word of it again, and that everything would be back to normal in the morning”