“Alice?”

“Yeah?” she paused.

“I’m so tired,” Dana whispered. Alice gave Dana a careful nod and turned back to the kitchen. “I’ll get the coffee.”

Dana was numb to the shivering. She’d walked to Alice’s. She’d walked most of the night and was beyond feeling much. She was just tired. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d really slept. She was desperate for rest, to quiet her brain for a while. At what point she’d decided to go to Alice’s she wasn’t sure but she was glad to be there. She felt almost calm.

Alice returned to the living room with two mugs of coffee. Dana gave her a small, apologetic smile. “I’m sorry I woke you.” Alice started to say she’d been awake and then stopped. It seemed like an unnecessary detour. “What’s going on Dane?” she asked gently.

Dana sighed. How to answer THAT question? She felt exhausted just thinking about how to respond. “Alice… Could I just sleep here? Just take a little nap? I feel like I just need to sleep. Is that too weird to ask?”

Alice was exasperated; sometimes Dana could be outrageously selfish. ‘Sure. Just show up for the first time in 4 months at 6:30am in the morning and take a nap. Whatever YOU need, Dana,’ she thought to herself. Biting her tongue she looked at Dana again and had to admit she looked like she was going to pass out. “Go sleep in my room, I’m working anyway,” she told her. “You know the way,” she added a bit spitefully and went back to her computer.

Dana winced at that but was frankly too relieved she’d said yes to worry about how Alice felt about it. She got up without comment and headed for Alice’s bedroom. After debating it for a moment, she removed her sweater and jeans and borrowed a t-shirt figuring Alice would prefer that to a wet bed. The familiar smell of her friend’s sheets and t-shirt gave Dana a jolt of desire mixed with a stronger feeling of regret. “Alice,” she cried.

Moments later Alice appeared at the door. “Yes?” she asked guardedly. Dana looked at Alice’s face and saw the wariness and hurt there. “I was cold.” She said finally. Alice knew Dana had more than enough blankets but really didn’t feel like pursuing the discussion. She brought Dana another blanket and spread it over her. As she leaned, spreading the blanket to the other side, their eye’s met for a moment. Abruptly Alice straightened. “You’re all set,” she said firmly, returning to the living room.

Dana groaned as she watched Alice close the door behind her. She knew it was unfair to just show up like this and then effectively end any conversation by asking to sleep. She knew Alice would need more of an explanation at some point. She would talk to her later. Already she felt herself drifting off to sleep.

TBC