She rubs her brow, running her hand through her hair, “Alice I can’t lie. I have missed you so incredibly much.”

This brings a smile to my face and so many questions to my mind.

She sighs, ” I’ve been so afraid to try and contact you. Wewell you know we obviously didn’t split on the best terms and before I realized what I had done I felt like it was too late. I let you down and I will never be able to forgive myself for that.”

My mind is spinning. Where is all of this coming from? I bite my lip, “Dana, I have to ask this, buthow long have you truly felt like this? I mean, was it before you found out you were sick?”

“You know, every time I saw Shane I would ask her how you were. I needed to have that connection to you butwell she told me you were doing fine. I had hurt you so bad already, I didn’t want to interfere in your life, Al.”

“YeahI was doing splendid.” I mumble.

“When I found out I was sick, you were the first thing I thought about.”

This is too much. I sigh, looking her directly in the eyes, “Do you love her?”

She shakes her head and calmly says, “No.”

No? What the *****? She left me. Straight up left and she does not even love this girl? I try not to let my anger shine through.

“No? I don’t understand Dana. You left mefor her. You ripped apart my life and security and you don’t even love her? Did you love her then?” I drop her hand. “What? You find out you’re sick and you have this epiphany ofof us? I just don’t get this.”

“I know Alice, but you have to understand” her words sound desperate.

I cut her off, “Do you just need someone to take care of you? You don’t trust Lara to stick through the rough times?”

She reaches across the table, grabbing my face between her hands, “I love you, damnit”

I gasp. My world has officially turned upside down.

She now has tears running down her face. She takes a deep breath, “I do Alice, I love you. It has always been you.”