The sun rose and morning dawned in its usual brilliance but even as the new day appeared ready and eager, Tina merely stayed as she was, caught up in her thoughts and feeling she didnt show any signs of recognition until Alice forced her out of bed and into the shower where she stayed till the water became to cold to bear.

Entering the kitchen, Alice guided her to a seat and gently nudged her to eat and drink. Finishing her required task, Tina merely went to the couch where the TV blared its nonsense and Tina lay watching unseeingly.

Alice looked on worriedly and stayed as long as she could as she had to go to a meeting which could not be cancelled.
The world did not stop for Tina and Bette, despite how much Alice wanted it to.

Hating to leave her friend she promised to be back soon and told her that Dana and Shane would be coming over to see her. But Tina merely laid, there still as can be, lost with blank eyes.

Calling Dana and Shane she waited until they came before going to work with a heavy heart.

Dana and Shane were shocked and stood as they each processed their disbelief at the friends condition. Dana had quickly run over to her friend and hugged her despite her non-responsiveness, tears streamed down her cheeks and Tina buried herself in Dana embrace.

Agonizing sobs were ripped from Tina and the sheer pain they contained caused Dana and Shanes hearts to break.

Shane and Dana helped Tina back to the bedroom and lay down with her, silently willing their friends pain to end but knowing that the only way that would happen was if Bette was here and yet she could not be.

For how ironic, it seemed that the cause and cure to this soul-destroying pain was one and the same.

Staying as she was for the day it seemed that as the time passed Tina became more conscious of her surroundings. Hearing Alices protests to something, Tina exited the bedroom to be engulfed in her friends hugs and comfort.

Dinner had been ordered and now lay on the table in a feast-like manner, eating as she listened to her friends mindless chatter she liked how they were able to make her forget at least for the moment some of the pain as her concentration went to their days.