“What’s wrong?”

“I’m not sure it’s anything at all, but I haven’t heard from her in days and her voicemail has been full since yesterday morning.” Helena paused, trying to figure out how to phrase her request. “I may be over-reacting, but I’m worried…”

Bette scanned the faces of the people who were waiting, albeit a tad impatiently, for her to enter and start the meeting. She was torn. Helena, despite her occasional abrasiveness, had good instincts when it came to Alice.

“Bette, you are one of her oldest friends. She’s told you things she’s never told anyone else, so it is clear that she feels safe with you. I’m in New York or I’d do this myself. Please. Will you check on her?”

“I don’t know, Helena. Sometimes Alice just needs her alone time. To work or…”

“I feel certain that’s not what’s going on. You got your letter from the attorney, didn’t you?”

In that moment Bette understood. Or thought she did. Searching her memory, she realized that she hadn’t seen or spoken with Alice in the past couple of weeks, about the time the letters arrived.

“That’s Monday isn’t it? I’ll go now,” Bette said, alarmed by thoughts of Alice having done something stupid.

“Monday marks six months. Your meeting?”

“I’ll reschedule. When did you last speak with her?

“The day I left. Tuesday. Do you have a key?”

“Yeah. I’ll call you when I know something…and Helena?”

“Yes?”

“Thank you. I know it wasn’t easy for you to call me.”

“I’d do anything for Alice…as I know you would.” She rang off, leaving Bette to reschedule a meeting that, for all intents and purposes, had already begun.

Alice closed her eyes as Dana’s voice echoed in her thoughts. “I love you.” It had taken such concentration, such effort, and it was so pure. But her pain was evident. “I love you.” In those last days merely opening her eyes took singular energy. Speaking had been out of the question and still, somehow, she managed to say what Alice knew, but longed to hear. “I love you.”

And that’s when Alice knew that the time had come. Why had she done it right then? She could have held off a day. Had she not voiced her thoughts in that moment, things might have turned out so differently. Even as she had the thought, Alice knew that she’d been selfish in waiting as long as she had. She didn’t care anymore. “I love you.” She just wanted to go back and change it. Take back her words. Stay in the room.