Shane pulled away and sobered a little when she realized that even though they were mostly hidden they were still standing out in the open for everyone to see. “You should go home.” Shane said as she swiped at the tears that were still left on her face.

“I’m not going home until we finish this, Shane. I’m not gonna be left standing with nothing to say this time. I know what I want. I want you and I meant it when I said that I love you and I’m not letting you off the hook this easy.”

“You think it’s easy?” Shane turned back toward Carmen. Surprised at the tone that her voice was carrying. She almost never raised her voice. She couldn’t believe that the woman standing in front of her could bring out her emotions so easily. “You think it’s easy for me to walk away from you. You think it’s easy for me to know that if I let you love me then I’m going to end up hurting you. You think that this is an easy choice for me to make.”

“Yes.” Carmen answered immediately. “Yes. I do. I know that this is the easy way out. Just toss me out like all the rest, that is the easy way. And I am not going to let you take it this time. I’m not going anywhere. This,” Carmen pointed her hand back and forth between herself and Shane, “is a relationship. Right now it’s a little fucked up, but it is a relationship.”

Shane looked at Carmen stubbornly. “I can’t ask you to keep dealing with me and my ***** *****, ok? It’s just not fair.” Shane had finally grabbed hold of her emotions and she walked over and sat on the curb, her voice returning to it’s usual dull tone.

Carmen walked over and sat down nest to Shane. “It is fair.” She said simply. “Because you’re not asking me for anything more than I’m asking from you. You’re asking me to be patient with you, well, then, I’m asking the same thing from you.” Carmen moved so that she was sitting in the street Indian style looking up into Shane’s eyes. “Shane, sometimes I’m going to ask you thingsthat maybe you won’t be ready to talk about for whatever reason. And what you need from me is a little patience, and understanding andwhatever. And I’m willing to give you that. But sometimes, I’m NOT going to understand and I’m gonna get a little bit frustrated. And sometimes I might walk away from you, but I’m asking you to be patient with ME and believe that I am always going to come back. Always.” Carmen repeated seeing in Shane’s eyes that she was finally getting through to her.