Alice got up from the couch and stepped towards Kerry. “I don’t know what I’m doing, Kerry. One second I’m certain I could never love anybody but Dana, and then I find you, and you stay by my side through all my bullshit, and before I know it I’m falling again. And this time it’s you who’s causing it.”

The tears that Alice’s words had summoned were streaming down Kerry’s cheeks as she tried to understand what Alice was saying. “Are you breaking up with me, or are you telling me that you love me, because right now I’m beyond confused.”

Alice shook her head in an attempt to clear away the mess of emotions that were currently thrashing around in her brain, “I don’t know what I’m saying,” Alice looked into Kerry’s eyes, and felt the weight of the doctor’s sorrow. She wanted to look in the opposite direction, to pretend her heart didn’t crumble at the thought of walking away from Kerry, but her feelings had surpassed the threshold of avoidance, “That’s a lie. I do know what I’m trying to say, but I’m terrified of hurting you.”

“Please, just say it.”

“It’s not that simple.” Alice began pacing the length of the living room. “I want to tell you what’s in my heart, but before I can say what I feel I need the chance to sort through everything.” Alice’s eyes found Kerry’s from across the room. “This isn’t right, you deserve somebody who can say I love you without hesitation, and right now I can’t. My feelings for Dana haven’t gone away, and my feelings for you just keeping growing, so basically I’m all fucked up inside.”

“I never asked you to declare your love for me.” Kerry said

“I know that, and that’s just one of the reason why I…” Alice crossed the room and stood directly in front of Kerry. “I’m not going to say those words right now, because if and when I do I don’t want either of us to have a single doubt floating around in our heads.” Alice reached up and caressed Kerry’s cheek, “that’s why I’m going to go away for a little while, and give myself the chance to figure out what the hell’s wrong with me.”