It was dusk and the place was dark and smelled of cigarette smoke. It took a moment for Alice’s brown eyes to adjust to darkness and when they did, she looked around for her friend. “Sidney!” she called.

She and Tasha wandered around, calling for Sidney before spotting her passed out on the couch. Tasha went to find lights to turn on while Alice kneeled down and started to shake her friend. Sidney was difficult to rouse and when she did begin to awaken, her blue eyes opened only briefly before they rolled back into her head.

The overhead lights came on and Alice squinted against the brightness. Sidney was still wearing the white tank and blue boy cut panties from earlier in the day. The shirt was stained with streaks of dark brown blood.

Tasha nodded to the coffee table. “Is this a regular thing for her?”

The table was littered with little brown vials and an ashtray was overflowing with cigarette butts. A thin plastic bottle labeled “Shane Shampoo” was lying on its side, missing its bottom half. The label was ripped as well and what appeared to be bottom half was sitting upright, a packet of blue pills, a few more brown vials, and a couple of rolled joints were inside of it. There was an empty whisky glass on the table, along with a half-empty bottle of Johnny Walker Blue. A nearly empty bottle of Tito’s vodka was on the floor.

Alice’s eyes filled with tears. Sidney was pale, her limbs askew. Sure, she and the girls might smoke a little weed together from time to time, but both Sidney and Bette had shielded her from the more powerful substances they used. She had known that Sidney was suffering, but seeing the mess was hurtful. The beautiful, outgoing woman that she’d come to love had in fact, come undone.

“I – – – I don’t know,” Alice replied, quietly. She kept shaking Sidney, but she couldn’t get much of a response.

Tasha picked up the bottom half of the shampoo bottle. “False bottom. I’ve seen this before.”

Alice wiped away the tears from her face. “Sidney, wake up!”

This was not the first time Tasha had seen an addict in a stupor. With her experience and training, her next movements were automatic. She moved closer and checked Sidney’s pulse and pupils. Sidney’s face was flushed and she was sweating.

Alice watched her expectantly.

“She’s out of it, but her heartbeat is still strong. It’s racing though. Her pupils are dilated so most likely it’s a stimulant. Maybe coke? She might be having an overdose.”

“Should I call 911?” asked Alice.

Tasha hated the worry in Alice’s dark brown eyes. “I’ll call it in. I have some friends that can help keep this discrete. Why don’t you go and get her a cool washcloth? And some clothes. We’ll clean her up a little before they get here.”

Alice nodded and raced away. She found sweatpants and a sweater for Sidney while Tasha made a phone call. Together, they dressed Sidney before Alice wiped her face with a cool washcloth. “She’s burning up,” said Alice.

Tasha nodded. “I know. See if you can find some ice or some frozen vegetables.”

Alice shook her head in disbelief. There was definitely no ice and next to nothing in the fridge or refrigerator. She grabbed more towels and ran them under cold water before rushing back to help with Sidney. She sat down on the couch and pulled Sidney’s head into her lap, pressing the cool towels to her forehead.

Tasha could tell that the scene had been shocking for her companion. She looked at Alice with heavy eyes. “I’m sorry, Alice.”

“I haven’t been there for her. I should have been there. I was so consumed with my own grief.”

“This isn’t your fault, Alice.”

Alice nodded but she still felt guilty.

When the paramedics arrived, they moved quickly and placed Sidney on a stretcher. An oxygen mask was placed on her face and then suddenly they were whisking her away. Alice rode in the back of the ambulance with her friend and Tasha drove behind them.

Alice held on to Sidney’s hand as the paramedic worked on the woman at her side. With her other hand, Alice called Bette, leaving a message when she reached her voicemail.