“Lara, I—I want to be with you, but I don’t know if this is the right time to try to be together. I mean Dana’s death is still fresh in my mind, and I don’t know if I can manage to be in a relationship without thinking about her. I fell into a black hole, and I’ll never get out of it. I want everything to be back to normal, but I know it’ll never happen. I want to be happy. I want, I want, I want…” Alice dropped her head and sighed. “I’m not happy, and I know if I told you I wasn’t I would be telling a lie.” She brought her head back up with tears in her eyes. “I want to give US a try, but I’m going to need the time to think things through and get my head screwed on right again.” Lara rubbed Alice’s hand.

“I don’t want to rush you, but I don’t want you to feel like you’re alone in this. I’m falling for you Alice. I’ll give you all the time you need. I’ll be waiting for you. I don’t care how long it takes you to be your old self again. I’m willing to do anything for you.”

Alice smiled faintly. “Thank you Lara.” Lara brought Alice’s hand to her lips and kissed it gently. She let go and got out of her chair.

“I have to get going, I have a job to get to.” She walked around the table and wrapped her arms around Alice’s shoulders. She whispered in her ear. “I’ll wait for you.” She kissed her cheek softly and walked away. Alice exhaled and ran her fingertip around the brim of her cup. She brought the cup to her lips and took a drink.

****

            Shane woke up in a faint room. She looked around and noticed there was a sheet covering the window. She sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. She sat up slowly in a bed that didn’t belong to her. Everything started to come back into her mind from the night before. London—the name popped into her mind. She scooted to the edge of the bed and put her feet on the floor. She ran her fingers through her tousled mane and stretched. She looked at the clock sitting on the nightstand. The red, lustrous numbers read ten-thirty, and she slowly got off the bed. She began to grab her clothes and began to get dress. London walked into her bedroom and saw Shane putting her clothes.