“I miss you too Al,” Dana replied with a sigh. Alice had no idea just how much Dana really did miss her. “But at least you’ll be back here in a few days. I don’t know what I’d do if I wasn’t going to see you next week.” Dana’s words were met by silence as Alice tried to think of the nicest way to break the news to her. However the silence continued, to the point where it became very evident to Dana that something was wrong.

“Alice?” She asked hesitantly. “Alice what’s wrong?”

“II have to stay here for a little longer than I thought Dane,” Alice said cautiously, closing her eyes as she spoke in an attempt to stop the image of a sad Dana reaching her mind. “It turns out that in my contract they, I-I have to stay here for a minimum time before I can quit.”

Dana let out the breath which she had been holding for that entire time. Her heart had sunk at Alice‘s words and she could feel the tears quickly forming in her eyes.

“How long?”

“Two months Dane,” Alice replied in a whisper.

Dana didn’t reply; her slow breathing the only evidence Alice had that she was still on the phone. “I’m so sorry Dana. I tried to do everything I could but if I don’t stay for that time they can sue me and I-I” Alice‘s voice had become more and more emotional as she sought to explain her absence to Dana to the best of her ability.

“Alice it’s alright,” Dana replied finally. It was a lie but a lie which Alice needed. “Two months isn’t that long and its better than you getting into trouble.”

Dana response surprised Alice who had been expecting a more hurt reaction, and it immediately worried her that Dana was so indifferent about the whole situation.

Maybe she’s changed her mind about us?

“Y-You don’t mind? At all?”

“I do mind Al, but it would be silly of me to act like a child about it,” Dana replied, her voice filled with fake sincerity. “Two months is better than five years.”

“I-I guess it is,” Alice stated unsurely. Silence filled the phone line once more as both women struggled to keep their emotions in tact. Finally Dana raddled off an excuse about training to end the conversation, unable to maintain her composure any longer.

“I’ll ring you later Alice,” she said quickly into the phone.

“OkI-I love you Dane,” Alice replied slowly, only to realise that Dana had already hung up.

Both Dana and Alice spent that night crying over each other, Alice wondering if Dana actually did love her, and Dana wondering how she could live two months without Alice in her life.