Shane woke early and quietly crawled out of bed trying not to wake the sleeping woman next to her. Yawning, she stepped into the bathroom and looked into the mirror. Her face still looked young but subtle lines around her eyes revealed a maturity that developed over the years. She ran her hands through her short hair and put on a bathrobe before heading to the kitchen to start a pot of coffee. A thud on the front porch let her know the paper had arrived, and she opened the door, letting a warm breeze blow through the kitchen. Some papers ruffled on the refrigerator and rustled to the ground and around the room. Shane grimaced and quickly shut the door, tip toeing towards the bedroom to peek inside. The woman was still sleeping soundly, long brown hair contrasting the white pillows, and her slight snores proved to Shane that she was resting thoroughly. Relieved, Shane slowly closed the door and poured herself a cup of coffee, sitting at the bar in the kitchen, opening up the paper.

She skipped past the world news and looked through the local section, skimming through articles and browsing the headlines. She was about to flip by the sports section when something caught her eye. Grinning, she leaned back and shook her head. How long had it been since she saw a tennis match like that? The picture showed a woman swinging her racquet at an approaching tennis ball, look of determination on her face. The caption underneath read, Dana Fairbanks of West Hollywood knocks the competition off her feet in LA at the start of this years tournament.

Shane ripped out the picture and put it on the fridge then stepped outside on the patio, sitting in a lounge chair in the sun. She closed her eyes and thought of a time when her life was different. Before the move to San Diego and before settling down with her lover and before the closest group of friends she ever had split apart and went their separate ways. Her memory was vivid as she recalled leaving LA. Tina had been the last person she had seen, although Tina didnt know it at the time. They were at the Planet enjoying a cup of coffee and chatting only three months after Tina found out about Bettes affair. When Tina stood to leave, Shane captured that image of her friend, her hair blowing gently in the breeze. Shane sat at the table and never took her eyes off Tina, still staring down the sidewalk even minutes after she disappeared around the corner. After that, she drove south, not stopping until she reached Sand Diego where she started a new life. She didnt even call and tell her friends until days later. Now, nearly six years later, she was too deep in thought and nostalgia to hear the footsteps behind her, but she felt the hand rest on her shoulder, causing her to open her eyes. Shielding her face from the bright mid-morning sun, she looked up.