“What is it, Al?” Dana asked, noticing her pensive expression.

“Nothing,” Alice replied, smiling at Dana to hide her sudden guilt. “I’ll go make us some tea, ok?” she said, leaving the room before Dana had a chance to answer.

Dana watched Alice walk into the kitchen with a confused expression. She wasn’t sure what was going on in Alice’s complicated mind, but she was certain something was bothering her.

Following a few minutes of loud sounds of clattering dishes and some mild curses emanating from the kitchen, Alice eventually emerged carrying two mugs of tea.

“You are the loudest tea-maker ever,” Dana said, giving Alice a slight grin as she gratefully accepted the proffered warm mug.

“Hey, I’m not the one who put the mugs way the hell at the back of the cupboard,” Alice retorted dryly.

“Stop complaining and have a seat,” Dana replied, shutting her eyes again as she leaned her head back against the couch.

“I suppose I can manage that,” Alice said, sitting down on the couch close to Dana. They sat in silence for a few moments, each woman lost in her own thoughts.

“Al,” Dana said quietly after awhile, shifting her head on the cushion so that she was looking at her friend. “I never really thanked you for everything you did for me in the hospital. I don’t know what I would have done without you,” she said softly, her face grave.

“You’re my friend, Dana,” Alice replied, trying to keep her voice light, but failing miserably. “My best friend,” she added sincerely, hearing her voice thicken as the weight of her guilt pressed on her mind again. Before she could stop herself, she felt words spilling out of her mouth. “You don’t owe me any thank you’s, especially since it’s partly my fault that you ended up in the hospital.”

“What are you talking about?” Dana asked, taken aback by Alice’s sudden confession.

“You asked me to stay with you that night,” Alice explained, feeling tears stinging her eyes as she relived the scene in her mind’s eye. “And, I went out on a date instead. I should have known that you needed me.”