Alice: “Let me in…and I’ll make you whole…Shane…I’ll fill you.”

Alice helped Shane climb up to the top of the bed. She eased her down onto her back and crept up on top of her. Alice payed special attention to Shane’s entire body. She wanted to pay tribute to every bit of flesh she had. She kissed up and down her stomach and thighs but did so innocently, not with an intensity that would make her uncomfortable. Alice removed Shane’s socks and kissed the tops of her feet. She kissed up her body and came to her arms. Alice rose up and sat astride Shane’s frail body. She removed the silver cuff that was on Shane’s biceps. She kissed where the left one had been and she noticed a scar on the inside of her bicep that she had never seen before. She noticed Shane squirmed underneath her. She kissed the scar while looking Shane in the eyes.

Alice: “I’ll kiss them all away…just show me where.”

Shane reached over and unbuckled the large leather cuffed watch she wore. Alice remembered that Shane always wore something to cover her wrists. Shane hesitated and she couldn’t remove the band. Alice reached over and placed her hands on both of Shane’s. Alice looked at Shane letting her know she didn’t have to show her if she didn’t want to. Shane gave her arm to Alice and let her know she could remove the watch. Alice finished unbuckling the watch and removed it to find what looked like severe burn marks on top of each other. She tried to control her face but Shane looked away from her as if she were ashamed.

Alice held her wrist to her mouth and kissed the pain away. She kissed the scars over and over again, and then held Shane’s wrist to her cheek. Alice reached down and rubbed her thumb along Shane’s cheek. Shane turned to look at Alice. Tears formed in her eyes for what seemed like the hundredth time tonight. Shane didn’t know what it was but for some reason Alice was causing emotions to surface in Shane…emotions that she had turned off years ago.

Alice :” They’re gone now.”

Alice gave Shane a weak smile. Shane nodded and held her arms up and open for Alice. She looked like a scared child begging for her mom to pick her up. Alice lowered herself into Shane’s arms.