“Jane?” she called into the empty space before her.

Jane sat on her bed, ‘it’s just Maura’ she chanted to herself.

“Jane” that familiar voice called out again. “Are you home?”

Jane smiled weakly. ‘Where the hell else would I be?’ she thought as she tried to compose herself. “I’ll be right out.” She called, surprised by the natural tone she’d achieved.

“I stopped by the store.” She could hear Maura moving around in the other room, “I bought you some groceries, nothing fancy.” Jane smiled despite the somersaults happening in her stomach at the thought of food. “I thought I could make us some gnocchi, and I got those horrible cookies you like too.”
Jane felt a tear trickle down her cheek and brushed at it fiercely. ‘She’s your best friend’ Jane scolded herself, ‘just go talk to her.’

“Jane do you insist on making me talk to myself all evening?” Jane could hear the familiar beat of heels on the floor and tensed her jaw.

“No, I’m coming.” Once more she was surprised by the relaxed, even tone that fell from her mouth. Everything inside her felt like it was being crushed and yet, she sounded perfectly normal.

Rising from the bed, she checked herself in the mirror, those pink dots mocking her as she ran her hands through her hair and forced a huge breath before turning and forcing her legs forward.

“Hi.” Maura grinned warmly as she assessed the woman standing before her quickly. ‘No obvious sign of new injury or trauma, slight wincing as she walked but that was to be expected given her existing injuries. Puffiness around her eyes; she’s not sleeping well.’ “How are you feeling?”

Jane shifted nervously on her feet and willed herself forward. ‘please go away’ she thought as she neared Maura she might as well be marching into the cave of a rabid bear, her heart rate increased as though that were her fate.
Swallowing loudly, Jane forced a smile onto her face but it fell far short of what she was hoping. “I’m….” she paused, ‘I’m terrified Maura.’ She thought ‘I’m so alone and I’m not sleeping and I can’t breathe and everything hurts and I don’t want to do this anymore.’ “I’m fine.” She sat in the chair and ripped open the cookies, forcing one into her mouth and chewing slowly.