Molly: Get to bed soon, you still have that interview tomorrow.

Shane nodded.

Shane: You staying over tonight?

Molly: Can I?

Shane nodded. Shane held out her hand to Molly who happily took it. They walked into the bedroom together. They snuggled together and slept happily through the night. Molly was so happy and nervous she couldn’t sleep. She was up all night listening to Shane’s heartbeat. The alarm clock started ringing at 7. Shane’s fever was back and the pain in her side was worse. She hit the snooze button and got up. Putting on a sweater and some jeans she went to get some more tynonel. It subdued the pain. She went back to the master bedroom. She nuzzled Molly’s neck with her nose.

Molly: Good morning.

Shane: Good morning.

Molly: How are you feeling?

Shane: I’m okay.

Molly: Lie, you’re so pale.

Shane’s face was surely very pale and she was sweating. Shane tried to hide the pain, but it was still leaking through.

Molly: I’ll go cancel the interview. And get you a doctor’s appointment.

She was getting out of bed.

Shane: No. I can do it. Let’s just get this over with and then have a relaxing Christmas.

Molly looked at Shane’s determined face.

Molly: Fine, but tell me if you can’t do it anymore.

Shane: I will.

Molly: I’m going home to get a change of clothes. We’re meeting the reporter at Charlie’s office.

Shane: Okay, I’ll just grab a breakfast and go.

Molly looked worried. Shane quelled the worries with a kiss.

Shane: I’ll be okay.

Molly: Bye.

Molly rushed home to get changed and back to Charlie’s office in the city. Shane made herself some cereal. The pain made her lose her appetite. Her fists were clenched tightly. Her jaw tight. She gave up on eating because she felt nauseous. She could scream from the pain, but held it in. She called a taxi after pulling on a black trench coat.

The reporter was sitting there already. She was late again.

Shane: Sorry.

Reporter: It’s okay.

Charlie: Shane, my good girl. Want an apple? From my backyard.

Shane: No thank you.

She was walking hunched over too. Molly went to go help her over to the couch.

Reporter: Sick Shane?

Shane: Just a little. I’m okay.

Molly: Let’s start so we can do this fast.

Reporter: Okay, this time we’re getting you on camera. The readers were so happy reading about you, they want more.

Shane gave him a weak smile.

Shane: Ask away.

Reporter: So what are your future plans?

Shane: Well, I don’t really have a plan, that’s the thing. I’ll just go with the flow.

Reporter: What about you and Molly?

Shane looked at Molly. She picked up her hand and held it up.

Shane: That enough to answer your question.

Reporter: Of course.

The interview went on for an hour about random things. Shane was starting to feel light headed. Charlie noticed and tried to cut it short, but Shane insisted on finishing.

Reporter: Last question.

Shane nodded.

Reporter: Do you want to say anything to Carmen?

Shane stood up in front of the camera. She felt compelled to get up. Her head was so dizzy, she needed the blood to circulate, she thought.

Shane: I really miss her. Not a day goes by without thinking about her. I’m sorry Molly. I’m trying to move on. It’s just hard. I’m still waiting for her to come back one day.

With that, Shane’s body went limp and she collapsed from the pain.

Molly: Shane!

Charlie: Let me pick her up!

Charlie carried Shane and ran towards the basement garage. There were at least 5 cop cars chasing after them, but when they knew it was an emergency, they opened the road for them. Shane was at the hospital in no time. Her fever spiked 104 and rising. The pain in her abdomen showed on her face. The doctors put her on morphine to relieve her of the pain and put her on medication that lowered her fever. Shane’s collapse on nation-wide television shocked everyone.