“Yeah, of course,” Dana said in an over-cheerful tone.  She cringed when she heard how unconvincing she sounded.  

“Look, Dana, we don’t have to go out tonight if you don’t want to,” Alice said, squeezing Dana’s hand reassuringly.  “We can stay here and rent a movie.  I’ll even let you burn some popcorn in the microwave if you want.”

“That does sound nice,” Dana said, smiling appreciatively at Alice’s attempt to add some humour to her bleak thoughts.  “But, I do want to go to the concert.  I haven’t hung out with the gang for ages, and once I start my treatment again, I probably won’t feel much like going out for awhile.”  She tried to maintain a brave smile, but her lips didn’t seem to want to cooperate with her.  She gave up and stared at her feet, trying to stop the swell of emotions that suddenly threatened to overwhelm her.

Noticing the conflicting emotions playing across Dana’s face, Alice responded by wordlessly pulling her into a tight hug.  Dana wrapped her arms around Alice’s shoulders and sighed gently, relishing the feeling of Alice’s familiar warmth pressed against her.   

After a minute, she lifted her head and gave Alice a grateful look.  “Al,” she began, but quickly stopped as she realised she didn’t know how to say what she wanted.  How could she express how thankful she was to have Alice in her life?  That she couldn’t fathom how she would have dealt with anything over the past couple of months if it hadn’t been for Alice’s unwavering support and constant presence?  Words couldn’t begin to describe her feelings.  Looking at Alice’s questioning face, Dana was struck dumb by the emotions that rushed through her.  She felt herself being drawn closer to Alice as her thoughts became consumed by a sudden desire to pull Alice toward her, to kiss her and block out the rest of the world.  For a moment, as she looked into Alice’s eyes, she felt as though everything else – the chemo, the cancer, and all of their past mistakes with each other – would simply melt away if they could just be together.

As their silence grew heavier, both women felt the energy between them shifting from friendship into something equally familiar.  Alice almost imperceptibly tightened her arms around Dana’s waist, drawing her closer.  She heard Dana’s breath catch softly as she leaned forward and cupped Alice’s face with her hands.  Suddenly, Alice no longer cared about the consequences; she was filled with an unquenchable desire to feel Dana’s lips against her own.  Closing the short gap between them before she could talk herself out of it, she quickly captured Dana’s lips with her own.