Alice clung to Dana and after several minutes was able to talk. “ssorry, I just had a bad dream” Alice looked away, almost embarrassed.

“Alice, you’ve just had a very traumatic experience, nightmares are nothing to be ashamed of.”

Alice’s head dropped.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

Alice already felt like crap for waking Dana up in the middle of the night before her last chemo treatment and really didn’t want to keep her from getting a good nights rest.

“No no it’s fine, I don’t really remember what it was about. Probably some silly monster chasing me”

Dana pulled Alice closer towards her gently so she wouldn’t hurt her and whispered in her ear “Don’t hide from me Al, I know it was about the accident and isn’t the first one you’ve had”

Alice just looked at Dana with an expression of both fear and shame. “I’m sorry. How did you know?”

“Never be sorry babe. You said a few things in your sleep.”

Alice, secure in Dana’s arms started to cry softly “It’s horrible I just play it over and over. I see the light and I know it was green but then I just see the truck coming nearer and nearer and I knew it wasn’t going to stop. I woke up just as the paramedics were getting there but all I could feel was the glass in my neck and something hot and sticky running down my face and neck, I couldn’t move or speak I just sat there till it all went black and all I could think was that I’d let you down.” By the time Alice had finished her confession she was crying and holding onto Dana for dear life.

Dana lay and listened to Alice’s recalling of her experience all the time holding her and trying to comfort her in the only way she knew how.

“Alice you didn’t let me down, it was an accident, a horrible terrible accident that I wish had never happened but it was not your fault and you could never, ever let me down with something that wasn’t even your fault.” Dana was not also crying. “I’m just so sorry that had to happen to you Al.”  After that they both just lay together and eventually their tears subsided. Alice looked up to find Dana fast asleep with her arms still protectively around Alice. She reached up and kissed Dana gently on the lips and snuggled back against her lover, feeling somewhat guilty for unloading so much onto Dana at the worst time but also feeling relieved that a burden had been lifted.