Shane sat alone and cried. As her body convulsed with each sob her pain and regret flowed with the tempo of the song. "Both sides now" by Joni Mitchell played on in the background and Alice sat in silence beside her friend, her hand resting on her back.
"I just thought I just hoped it would be different" sobbed Shane into her arms.
"I know honey,"
"I loved her so much! I thought it would be different. And somehow I still managed to fuck it all up! Why can't I get it right? Why can't I be happy Al?"
Alice couldn't mistake the touch of hopelessness in Shane's voice and hear heart ached for the women's pain.
Shane suddenly looked up into Alice's eyes and whispered her eyes red and bloodshot "What do I do now? What the FUCK AM I S'POSE TO DO NOW?"
She shouted the last line and got up, wringing her hands in frustration.
"I've got to see her" and she strode to the door, Alice quickly stood up and blocked the doorway. "NO! Shane, no." she said it quietly. "I don't really think that's a good idea. Do you?"
Shane looked at her for a moment before murmuring under her breath "not a good idea"
She shook her head and sat down murmuring repetitively "not a good idea" to herself.
She's finally lost it thought Alice to herself.
The song finished and Shane closed her eyes.
"Shane? Shane?" But Shane was gone and Alice smiled to herself. She covered Shane with a blanket, turned off the lights and closed the door as she left the room.
And in the dark, Shane once more began to cry.