Parking the car, she looked up at the building beside her. She knew she’d end up back at Jane’s. Glancing towards the small clock, it told her, in its own unique neon way that it was 3am. She sat and watched the building for more than ten minutes, Jane’s apartment was still well lit although she could see no sign of movement. Stepping silently into the street, she headed up the cold concrete steps and let herself through the main door, ignoring her brain’s attempts to tell her all the horrible things that she could be standing in in her bare feet.

Resting her forehead on the front door, Maura listened closely for any sound that could indicate Jane was anything other than sleeping soundly. It felt to her like an hour had passed before she could push the key into the lock and twist the lock open. The sight before her crushed her heart. The apartment looked like it had been ransacked; pieces of paper littered the floor with gay abandon, the Chinese meal she had left on her previous visit remained on the floor, the cartons having been stood on, shedding their contents across the rug and the smell of the wine filled the air. Maura could see no glass but a cursory glance to the kitchen explained why.

On the sofa, Jane was sleeping fitfully. Her long limbs twitching as eyes danced behind closed lids. Her cheeks tear stained and red. Feeling the tug in her heart, Maura fetched a blanket from the linen cupboard before turning off the lights  and nudging Jane gently back onto the sofa, making room for herself in front of the sleeping woman. As the heavy wool blanket fell over the pair, Jane’s eyes fluttered open, unfocused, but the warm smell of cinnamon filled her nose, comforting her instantly.

With Maura back and now in her arms, Jane sighed happily, her arms wrapping instantly around the shaking doctor and sending her back to sleep. In the strong embrace, Maura finally felt her world falling back into place. For the first time that evening, she realised where she was meant to be.
The therapy would be hard on Jane that much she had known, but she had never anticipated it would be so hard on her to see her friend so broken and unsure of herself. Lying on the cramped couch, she sighed heavily. “Good night Jane.” She yawned into the darkness.