Alice stood for a moment dumbfounded at the amount of emotions that played on Shanes face, before the brick wall went up.  Finally she shook her head and made her way to her bed, destined to dream about the damaged woman sleeping on her couch.  How she wanted to scoop the woman up in her arms and show her how much she loved and cared for her.  She hoped that Shane was opening up to Bette at their daily lunches, but Bette refused to divulge any information to Alice, despite her persistent prodding; not that Alice didnt notice the changes that had taken place in Shane in the last few weeks.  The young woman seemed genuinely happy and set in a consistent routine.  She had gotten a job, which Alice still had no clue as to what it was, she had started giving her money for rent and food.  Alice didnt really want to take it, but knew that Shane needed to feel like she was making a contribution to the household, not that she wasnt grateful for the extra money each week. 

I dont know why Im worrying over her, she seems to be doing well she mumbled to the silent air around her.  Eventually her mind relaxed and she fell into a nice restful sleep.

Shane flipped mindlessly through the channels with the volume on mute.  After a few minutes she made her way to the kitchen returning with a six pack of beer.  She needed to get over the sweet lullaby Alices voice brought to stem off her nightmares, opting to pass out instead.  She quickly chugged a beer and opened another.  She was being sillyshe never needed to hold anyones hand before to sleep.  ***** she had slept under bridges with ***** strangers and on park benches.  How the ***** did she manage to get herself in this vulnerable position?  How did she of all people turn into such a ***** sappy girl?  She shook her head after downing her second bottle, rapidly opening her third and chugging it as well. 

I am not afraid of dreamsthey are not realShane shifted her body on the couch, moving herself in to a more comfortable position.  She didnt believe in ghost, she never hadnot even as a child.  She remembered her mother taking her to a matinee in Texas, a rare treat for her.  The theater was playing a horror flick, that she begged her mom to see, and she never flinched once.  Now at nineteen she had her own ghost and demons haunting her, and despite her best efforts she acted like a scared child.  Im such a ***** kid Shane continued to curse and berate herself, until her body passed out from the large quantity of booze she had indulged in.  Happily she welcomed the bleak silent darkness, knowing full well that her mind could not muster up a nightmare in its current condition.