You’ll never see any scars or wounds

I don’t walk on coals,

I won’t walk on water

I am no prince

I am no saint

I am not anyone’s wildest dreams

But I can stand behind and be someone to fall back on

Carmen felt eyes on her and glanced towards Shane. She caught the woman staring and stared back. Their eyes connecting, an incredible amount of emotion passing between them, the people in between them blissfully unaware of the promises full of pleading, fear, hope, and love, in that one look. Carmen got up and walked outside. Mercedes was up right after her and started to follow her. Shane put her hand on her shoulder.

“Please. Let me talk to her.” She whispered, her voice pleading.

“Listen. I’ll talk to her first. OK? She really needs to calm down before you can talk to her. I’m not fighting you here. I’m trying to help.” Mercedes promised, turning and walking outside after her friend.

Carmen could hear the music inside still pumping out, and knew someone followed her out when the volume surged for a few seconds before returning to it’s muffled sound.

“What’s wrong?” Mercedes asked after a short pause.

“Nothing. What makes you think something’s wrong?” Carmen asked, looking down the street at a bar where people were yelling at a small TV screen broadcasting whatever sports game was on that night.

“Can we not do this?” Mercedes responded, sitting next to Carmen.

“Do what?” Carmen’s voice had been getting progressively quiet, and now she was down to a whisper.

“This thing where I know something’s wrong, you deny it, and we go through this little exchange where I have to coax the answer out of you. I don’t have time for that right now.” Carmen didn’t respond. She just did her best to look distracted so that Mercedes would just give up. “OK, I’ll start. Why are you doing this to yourself?” Carmen looked at her, tears streaming down her face. “Doing what?” she sniffled.

Mercedes groaned, and rubbed the bridge of her nose.

 “Pretending you’re not dying inside being without her.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”