“Righto, straight home?” Alice asked, still no answer.  Dana was lost in her thoughts.

Dana had a sudden thought; it hit her like a freight train. She had Dr Shapiro call Alice on the day she’d gotten her diagnosis. They hadn’t spoken in weeks but Dana knew she only wanted one person with her when her world had collapsed around her.  Alice had never left her side since but what if she was just doing all of this because she felt sorry for her, because she pitied her?  Dana’s rational side was screaming at her to think straight and not to be so stupid but something kept nagging at her. Before she had a chance to resolve her irrational thoughts, the car stopped and Dana realised she was home.

They climbed the few steps to Dana’s front door, slower than usual however. Dana’s legs felt a bit weak, in truth Dana felt her whole body was not quite right and decided pretty quickly she didn’t like what chemo was making her feel or think but still she pushed away the only constant, the only ray of sunshine that was penetrating her grey cloud. Alice.

“Thanks for the lift Al, sorry to take up your time. I’ll be fine from here thanks. Think I’ll just head to bed.”

Alice was completely taken aback. She’d spent every day and night with Dana since her diagnosis, they’d been so happy despite her illness.  Alice couldn’t believe it was happening again.

“Oh” she eventually managed to stutter out. “Em, you sure?” she had no idea what to say but knew she didn’t want to push Dana.

That voice inside Dana’s head raised its ugly head again. See! She can’t wait to get away from you Dana, just do the poor woman a favour and cut her loose.

“Yeh course I am Al, you’ve got a life too, just leave me be. I’d ask you round soon but think I’m going to just lie low for a while, let this chemo stuff have its wicked way with me. I’ll give you a call when I’m feeling up for visitors.” Dana practically whispered her last sentence, knowing that her voice would’ve betrayed her and feeling the tears prickling behind her eyes she turned her key in the door and headed inside leaving a distraught Alice on the doorstep in tears.