Alice sat back onto her bed, pulling a sheet effortlessly over her waist. The room grew dark, a shade of moonlight crept through the gaps in her curtains. Lara will be here soon. Alice did’t know why she was nervous, there was growing anticipation of the moment. The moment she could finally say I can finally move on, I can learn to love again. But guilt soon surged through her weakened body. What would Dana think? What would she think of herself? Alice looked over at the clock and forced a smile, ten minutes untill Lara arrives. Time was funny, Alice thought, the very invention that we created, as humans, to validate the things we’ve done, to create a past – a place to leave our hurt and mistakes.

 Soon enough the doorbell rung, sounding a sweet chime. Alice inahled deeply, a regretful sigh escaping her lips. As she got up from her matress, she peered out the window to spy Lara. She looks just as helpless as I do.

 ’ Alice, it’s me.’ Flinging open the door in one swift motion, Lara’s humble smile eased Alice’s heart, a little. When Lara planted a gentle whispering kiss on Alices’ lips, she could feel her heart tighten and her chest begin to heave. If only I could surrender to this woman entirely without any underlying factors. ‘May I come in?’ Alice laughed like a naive child, ‘Sorry.’ The women walked in to the lounge room and sat down, on opposite couches. The distance between them was as though an earthquake had hit and shattered the ground below.

‘ I think we should explore this Alice, I mean I know it’s soon, but maybe we need it.’ Lara’s words caused Alice’s chin to lean towards the floor, her eyes closing and clenching involantarily. ‘I don’t know Lara, I mean I love Dana and -’ Lara somehow managed to leap over the cracks in the ground and slump down beside Alice. ‘ We both love Dana, but we understand eachother, she would respect that.’ Lara’s voice was often reminiscent to a therapist, soothing, reassuring, but just not convicing enough. ‘I just think I need to be on my own right now.’ Lara’s forced smile turned to a deep frown, tears welling in her eyes, ready to crash like a waterfall. ‘Are you sure that’s what you want?’ The desperation in Lara’s voice was heart breaking, Alice wanted so much to give in, to scream and admit, Yes I need you and I need you more than ever! But she couldn’t, instead, she continued to avoid Lara’s gaze and sit in silence.