As they chatted about nothing in particular, Carmen noticed that Shane looked uncomfortable. She caught Shane glancing at the doorway and the clock above it every few minutes. And she knew why.

When Shane unconsciously turned to the clock again, Carmen spoke with sadness in her eyes.

“You gotta go somewhere?”

“Huh?” Shane turned back and stared at her girlfriend blankly. Shane swallowed an imaginary lump in her throat and hesitated.

“Er. Yes, I gotta get to a gig, but there is still time. I will stay here till you fall asleep.”

Carmen sighed, accepting the excuse that Shane gave. She understood completely and decided to let her go.

“Which is soon baby, I am very tired. I think I would sleep now.”

Shane heaved a sigh of relief, but quickly recomposed herself to look at Carmen, she knew Carmen understood, and was giving her a way out. Appreciatively, she placed a soft kiss on Carmen’s forehead and her fingers brushed lovingly on the same spot.

Carmen closed her eyes and pretended to fall asleep. She could feel Shane gazing at her lovingly for a moment longer before she felt the soft lips come down on hers. She sighed and contentedly, began to really drift off to sleep.

When Shane was sure that Carmen was asleep, she gathered all her stuff and headed out of the door quickly. The nurses that knew Shane greeted her goodbye, but Shane didn’t notice at all, focusing instead on getting out of the place as quick as possible.

She zig zagged pass all the obstacles that were blocking her way, never once stopping until she came up to the elevator. As she peered at the numbers above the door, she realized that there were 10 levels to go before the elevator would arrive and shifted her feet impatiently. She looked around paranoid, contemplating on taking the stairs. The rational side of her decided against it and Shane twitched around as she stared at the blinking numbers ascending.

When the elevator door opened, Shane darted in quickly as an elderly Latin woman made her way out. Shane knocked into her in her haste, and the bags that the lady was holding went flying around.