Sadness poured from her, filling her apartment with the aura of regret and loss. A polite knock at door began to grow more insistent. Alice made no move to answer it. “I love you.”

Alice never heard Bette call her name, announce herself, or let herself in. Bette stepped into the darkened apartment and felt her heart quicken. It was too quiet. Too neat. Too dark. She called Alice’s name as she poked her head into the bedroom. Called her again as she made her way down the hall to the living room. And again when she didn’t see Alice curled into a corner of the sofa, knees drawn to her chest, her chin resting on her knees.

Bette crossed to the window and opened the blinds, drawing an annoyed groan from Alice as she covered her eyes. Bette jumped, startled by the noise.

“God, Alice, you scared the hell out of me,” she said with a feigned laugh.

“Then maybe you shouldn’t just barge into someone’s home uninvited,” Alice snarled.

Bette was shocked, not by her friend’s anger, but by her appearance. Her skin was sallow, her hair stringy and she could clearly see dark circles under sleepless eyes as Alice cupped her hands and met her gaze. She looked so defeated. So fragile. So broken.

“Close the blinds,” she said in a soft voice, suddenly devoid of emotion. “And get the fuck out.”

Bette did as she was asked and moved back across the room. For a moment, Alice thought she was actually going to leave. Instead, Bette reached over the stacks of unopened mail, turned on the desk lamp and adjusted it to bounce off the wall, diffusing the light. Alice brought her hands and head back to her knees. Closing her eyes, she saw Dana’s face again, giving her that wan but encouraging smile. “I love you.”

“I’m right here, Al,” Bette said gently as she knelt on the floor in front of her. “I’m not going anywhere.”

She reached up and took Alice’s hands in hers. It was all she could think to do. When Alice pulled back, she moved a hand to Alice’s foot and left it there, trying to keep any connection she could. She fought back her tears as they sat in aching silence.