Shane slid her hands into her back pockets as she contemplated the question. Her heart was still racing so hard her head was echoing everything that was spoken. Her voiced boomed when she replied, “Yeah good. I’m ah cured now.” she said half grinning.

“Oh that’s great,” Carmen said and grinned too and touched Shane’s arm. Shane’s heart skipped and she pulled her hands out of her back pockets and reached for Carmen’s hand but she recoiled too quickly. “Shane..” she started. How many times had she said her name which caused her heart to race and how much she hated that when she had said it that Carmen no longer felt that elated joy of her being touched by her. “I’m happy for you but…” Carmen continued.

Shane stopped her, “It’s cool.” Shane glanced up at the girl she had seen Carmen with earlier. “It’s ok, I get it.” Shane lowered her head, shook it and ran a hand through her hair. “I get it.” she repeated and headed for the door. She felt dread well inside her as she crossed the archway leading outside the CAC. She needed to feel free again, she needed relief. She didn’t want to feel the hurt building up inside.

“Where you going Shane? I’ll give you a lift,” Will called as she ran after her. Shane stopped and looked up at the sound of the familiar voice. She placed her hands in the pockets of her designer jeans as she heard the pace behind her slow to a stop. “All you need to tell me is where you’re going,” Will whispered next to her friend. Shane’s chest felt tight, the world seemed dark though she knew that the sun still shone as brightly as it had that morning. That morning. It seemed so long ago now. When she had the glimmer of a chance, when the world seemed full.

Shane looked down to examine her shoes and thought of Will’s words. Where was she going? she was sure Will knew. Will had said herself she had been there a hundred times before and each time she had failed miserably except for, except for the last time. Everything became too much all at once. Shane’s face felt hot and soon the sting of cold wet tears trickled down her face. She felt a hand on her shoulder and instinctively she shrugged it off. Somehow though it had stayed despite the attempt. Shane was pulled around to look at her friend.

Somehow Will’s hair was less mousy, her eyes less plain green and her face was more than average but Shane looked down her gaze and hid her eyes, hid her tears. Will pulled Shane into her arms and placed her head on her shoulder. Shane could smell the ***** cologne she was given on her exodous as she was pulled in next to Will’s neck. As if it had been some toxic fume to her, Shane lost her resolve and started, however relunctantly, crying into her friends shoulder.

A few minutes passed in what seemed like forever. Standing in the walkway to the CAC being held by her friend as she cried uncontrollaby soft sobs into a tattered jeans jacket Shane’s arms wrapped around Will’s back. Will had gripped her tightly afraid Shane would fall over shock of her own remorse. Shane’s tears slowed to an even quieter end as Will pulled away and pulled something out of her pocket.

“Feel better?” Will asked non-chalantly as if they had just had a casual conversation about the Lakers. Shane shok her head as she took the tissue now being offered to her and blew her nose. “So,” Will started again. “Where are you going?” she asked inquisitively sounding as if Shane had told her and she had simply forgotten. Shane laughed briefly and looked at Will.

“Home. I was going home,” Shane replied. Will smiled while returning the rest of the pack of Kleenex to her pocket and started walking forwards. Her boots echoed loudly over the path to the CAC. She placed a hand around Shane’s shoulder and pulled her into a buddy fashioned walk down the pathway towards her car.

“And I’ll give you a lift,” Will announced ceremoniously as if Shane had just pulled off the greatest feat of her life.