‘Cancer?’ Alice questioned, struggling to gulp down her sandwich. ‘Oh God…did she say what kind?’. ‘Yeah i think she said the right breast, they don’t know how major it is but the test results should be in on Friday’ Shane replied. Alice looked towards the floor unsure as to the appropriate response. ‘Damn’ was all she could manage after a long silence. ‘Is Dana o.k?’. Shane took a sip of her pepsi and shrugged her shoulders. ‘Must be weird for you having to sympathise huh?’. Shane always could see through whatever was going on in Alice’s head. Weird was definitely how she was feeling right now. Lara was the woman who had effectively been responsible for the deterioration of her relationship with Dana but she would never have wished illness upon her, especially an illness so serious. ‘Maybe you should talk to Dana’ Shane suggested. Alice had considered this in her head. ‘Come on Shane, what good would it do if i spoke to her?” Shane was withholiding something. Finally she sighed and lay all the cards on the table for Alice. ‘Lara went back to Florida last night’. ‘Why Florida?’ Alice replied stunned, ‘what’s going on?’ Shane stood up and began to edge her way to the exit door, ‘Her parents live there, Dana’s not answering anyones calls and i know you two have been through your share of *****, but i also know that when it matters you were always the only two people who could really reach each other, it’s up to you whether or not you want to help her out’, and with that the door of the planet swang shut.

Dana was at home listening to music and looking and old photographs.  The lyrics rang true in the backround…’some things in life may change, but some things, they stay the same’. ‘Like your really amazing ability to make a mess of your life’. Dana thought, sipping her Jack Daniels. ‘Dana!’ she heard through the door of her condo. ‘Was it?’ she thought before rationalising that it couldn’t be Alice. She had made a great mess of that friendship, there was no way the voice at the door could be…’Dane it’s Al, please open the door’. Dana was stunned, as much as she wanted to shun everybody there was no way she could ignore the chance of rectifying some things with Alice. She pulled on a hoody and made her way to the door. There before her stood her best friend, the number in her phonebook and her memory she had been desperate to call but didn’t dare to. ‘Al’ Dana began rubbing her eyes. ‘Can i come in?’ the blonde pleaded. ‘Um…’ Dana replied hesitantly ‘the place is a real mess i dunno…’ but before she could finish her sentence Alice was pushing her way through the front door. ‘Come on Dane you know me better than that, how often have i seen your place like this?’ Alice looked towards the couch and saw that sitting there was an old photograph album. The book was open at a picture of the two of them taken a year ago at Palm Springs. Dana was smiling and Alice was about to dab ice cream on her face. ‘That was a fun day huh?’. Alice remarked, lifting the album and sitting down on the couch. ‘Yeah, it was great’ Dana admitted, joining her friend. Alice looked at Dana pleading with her eyes, hoping that she would confide in her. ‘I heard about Lara’. Alice admitted.’Al’ Dana began, ‘I appreciate it that you’ve come round to see me but trust me, I know you’re the last person i should be expecting to help me through this at the minute…but you’re a wonderful person for coming here anyway’. Alice took Dana’s hand in her own and reassured her, ‘Dana, i can’t pretend that i’m not hurting, but I also know that you are and as awkward as things have been between us lately…you’re my best friend. I can’t make myself forget that’. Dana was touched by Alice’s good will. ‘She left me.’ Dana admitted, struggling to hold back the tears. ‘What happened?’ Alice asked as Dana recalled the memory of the previous evening…