Equally enchanted and tormented, she had no clue what to do next. This woman had caused her more emotions in a few short weeks than anyone ever had. In a true moment of weakness, she resorted to the one thing she always had, she prayed, not for forgiveness but for guidance through this, wherever it led.

She closed her eyes and placed her hands together, silently begging for strength. After she was done, she wiped the tears from her face. She opened her eyes and looked up to see that Franky was awake and looking directing at her and her heart raced. The small amount of light in the room had moved away from the pillow now. She could just see Franky’s eyes shining in the darkness.

“What’s wrong” asked Franky, how long had she been awake? Karen wondered.

As she was sitting by her bed watching her sleep, Karen did not feel she could even try to pretend. She couldn’t put it into words anyway, so she did not try. She put her head in her hands and wept.

“Hey hey ssh darlin” said Franky.

She had called her this many times before but usually in a leering or lascivious way. This time her voice was tender and seemed sincere. Karen looked up and met her eyes again.

“Franky, I’m so confused, I’m sorry about before and everything that happened but the other day in my room, the things you did to me…”

“I’m sorry Karen, I went too far again. It’s my stupid pride. I just wanted to hurt you like you hurt me. I didn’t mean it”. Franky look genuinely ashamed.

“That’s not what I mean, I want you, I want you so much I can’t do anything or think about anything else. I feel like I might die if I can’t be with you”.

They carried on looking into each other’s eyes, neither one wanting to be the first to break the connection. Eventually It was Karen who looked away. Not out of shame but to make the next move. It was now or never. Her was heart beating loud enough to deafen her. Maybe it was just the blood pounding in her ears, Surely Franky could hear it too. She peeled back the bedclothes and climbed in beside Franky, the old metal bed creaking under their shared weight.