“Can I come in?” Alice looked up to see Bette lingering in the door to the bedroom.

“Sure. Come in. You’re the last one to have an audience. Isn’t she, Dane?” Alice answered, smiling at her friend. “Did all the others leave?”

“Yes. I just thought I should say good night to Dana before I go too.” Bette used her softest voice. It was a tone of voice she often used around Dana. Bette had always been very gentle with Dana, Bette always acted maternal around the younger woman. “Dana, I’m just coming to say good bye. I’m going home now.” Dana didn’t answer, she just continued to breathe, steadily and deeply. Bette looked at Alice, worried.

“Dana, are you tired, baby?” Alice spoke loudly into Dana’s ear. “Do you want to lie down? It’s been a long day. Everyone’s been here to hang out with you, so now you must be pretty exhausted, huh? Do you want me and Bette to help you lie down?”

“Mmm” Dana muttered. “No I’m going up.” And suddenly she rose to her feet, her eyes still half closed. It took Alice half a second to react, but she caught Dana’s limb body before she fell. “Let me go!” Dana whined, sounding like a small child. She strained, but she was so weak it didn’t do much good. “What are you doing to me? Let me go!”

“Dana, I can’t let you go. You’ll fall down and hurt yourself.” Alice had to clench her teeth so hard not to cry out loud. She had to at least try and remain strong for Dana and for herself, even though it wasn’t easy now when she had started to go delirious. “Can you call the doctor?” She asked, and Bette ran out to fetch the phone.

“I don’t want to” Dana hissed, as she hung in Alice’s arms. “Stop it Let me down” She pleaded.

“Dana, I can’t let you down. You’ll get hurt.” Alice started to panic. Although Dana didn’t weigh much, her position made her very heavy. “Bette!” She yelled, and the other woman was in there like a shot, still on the phone with the doctor. Together they lifted Dana back into bed, and all the while Dana whimpered and spoke deliriously.