Lara nods.

Lara ”I know.  I know the past year hasn’t been easy.  It hasn’t been for any of us.  Dana would always…worry about you.  She would always ask for the longest time if you had dropped by The Planet while she was away training or at some tournament.  She thinks everything about you.  It’s why I’m glad you’re here now, because it makes her smile.”

Alice ”Hey, you make her smile, too.  And she loves you.  A lot.  And…I think it’s great that you’re still here.  And I meant what I said.  When I told you that…I wanted to take care of you.  No matter what happens.”

Lara ”We’ll take care of each other, Alice.  This…whole deal has brought us together and I think we’re much better friends now.  And you’re right…this should have been under better circumstances.  I just wish I could have seen it sooner.  If only I could have been able to just…get her to get it checked in time.  God…that eats at me.”

Alice ”You can’t let it, Lara.  I mean, it was so tiny at first.  That’s how it starts, y’know.  Seems like nothin’, then all of a sudden, it’s this…fucking monstrous thing that’s threatening.  Fucking sucks.  And I mean, you can’t beat yourself up, because I’d have to do the same to me…shit…I fucking told her.  Get that shit checked out.  And she said she did and said it was fine and I still wanted her to keep checkin’ on it and then you saw…”

She can never know.

Alice ”…Um.”

Lara ”Alice?”

Alice freezes up and Lara is quick to notice.

Alice ”Saw…what…happened.  Happened with it…gettin’ worse.”

Lara ”…You didn’t talk with her for months.  She cried over it.  You didn’t show up at The Planet and when you did, you’d go leave and hang out with Helena…”

Alice ”Yeah!  Yeah, that’s what happened and uhh…yeah.”

Lara no longer has an appetite.  All she can do is look at Alice.  Something is not right.

Lara ”Alice?  Why do I feel like you’re not telling me something?”

Alice ”Um…”

Lara ”When was the lump tiny?  It wasn’t when I noticed it.”

Alice ”Well, you were fucking busy, Lara.”

Alice is surprised at herself.

Alice ”Shit.”

Lara ”Alice…Alice, talk to me.  Did something happen?”