"Well, that was a good movie," Sabrina said, as she, Kris, and Frank came out of the theater.

"The fight scenes with Zod were intense," Frank said, still breathless.

"The fight scenes with Zod were intense?" Kris said, teasing. "Or Lois Lane was intense?"

"There's only one gal for me out there—you. Not even Lois Lane can divert my attention from you."

"I don't get it though—was it really necessary for him to kill Zod?" Kris wondered.

"Hey, when you have no choice, you have no choice," Sabrina said. "I mean, Zod would have killed that little family. If Superman didn't do what he did, those folks would've died."

"Desperate times call for desperate measures," Frank said.

"Exactly," Sabrina said, nodding.

"So... What are we doing after this?" Kris asked. "Are we eating somewhere?"

"Man of Steel is enough for the day," Sabrina said. "We need to go. You need to get some rest. We could go out for lunch tomorrow if you want. Wait for me here while I go get the car."

"Alright," Kris said, nodding.

Kris and Frank found a bench to sit on while waiting for Sabrina to get the car and pick them up.

"You okay?" Frank asked, looking curiously at Kris. She was awfully quiet. This wasn't her.

"I'm... I'm fine," Kris assure him. "It's just... I was wondering what's up with Sabrina."

"Why?"

"I feel like she's overdoing it. It's as if she's acting like any day could be my last day."

"Babe, any day can be your last. You just don't know. We don't know. She's taking that into account and making the most of the time—just don't think about it, alright? Just go along with it. Enjoy it."

Just talking about Kris's impending death made Frank choke and tear up. And there it was. He was sniveling like a child.

"Are you crying?" Kris said with a half-laugh, as if in disbelief. "Baby, I'm still here. You're not going to lose me yet. Ssshhh... I'm here... I'm here."

"You know what's gonna be hard for me? When I walk out of that hospital for the very last time and realize that's...that's it. I'm never gonna see you again... I'll be leaving you there... In...in the morgue..."

"Shush," Kris whispered, stroking his hair and kissing his forehead. "Don't think like that. Don't think like that. I'm still here... Ssshhh..."

After what seemed like years, they heard the honk of Sabrina's car and they both quickly wiped their tears.

"Did I miss anything?" Sabrina asked.

"No, no, of course not. Let's go home."

"Do you usually leave the light off?" Kris asked when they got home. "It's too dark."

"Yeah, I sometimes turn every light in the house off," Sabrina fibbed.

"No wonder your house gets broken into," Kris said. She bought Sabrina's little tale.

"It was just last week," Sabrina lied. "No such incidents have occurred prior. It was a first. As they say, there's always a first for everything."

Then came the light.

Everyone popped out from where they were hiding.

A loud pop. A rain of confetti.

Kris laughed. Sabrina was smiling.

"Welcome home, Kris!" came the unified cheer.

The living room was decorated with balloons, ribbons, and a streamer that read "Welcome home, Kris!" Drinks were on the bar, food was on the table in the kitchen.

Kris laughed again. "Alright, who's the evil mad scientist behind this genius scheme? You win! I was surprised. You got me."

She was making a joke, of course. They all laughed. Sabrina giggled.

"That would be me," she said.

"Oh, Bri," Kris said, smiling. "You shouldn't have."

"But I wanted to. You're home now, Kris. You're among friends," Sabrina replied. "Sisters. Loved ones. I want you to enjoy it. You don't have a lot of time left."

"No, I guess I don't," Kris conceded. "So I guess I better enjoy this party. Thank you, Sabrina."

The two hugged and then released each other.

"Go over there," Sabrina said, pointing to the living room (or the Great Room). "There are people there who want to see you so bad."

Kris smiled. It was Julie and Tiffany. Friends. Former colleagues. And as Sabrina put it, sisters. This was great but it made Kris sad. It made her think of her own death. Why must everyone remind her of it? Frank, earlier that evening. And now Sabrina? She felt like Henry from The Time Traveler's Wife—only, this wasn't Henry's party. It was hers. And she wasn't going to get shot. She was dying of cancer.

Snap out of it, Kris! Just enjoy it! she told herself. And she did. She hugged Julie and Tiffany.

"What are you two doing here?" she asked them.

"A certain Miss Duncan talked us into it," Tiffany said. That brought laughter to the group. Sabrina sighed.

Four years ago, they were together, like this. But there were bitter words exchanged. Bitter and angry. She wished she could turn back the clock and make it look like this—friends having fun. Enjoying life instead of lashing out at each other.

Stop it, Sabrina! It's over with, she said to herself. Just give Kris what she needs most right now.

"Bri?" Kelly's voice suddenly broke through her thoughts. "Are you okay?"

"Y-yeah, I'm... I'm fine. Just..." Sabrina said, ending what she had to say with a sigh.

"Bri, we talked about this earlier, didn't we?" Kelly said, taking her friend's hands in hers. "Look. Just enjoy the party, okay?"

Sabrina hesitated.

"For Kris?" Kelly pleaded.

"For Kris," Sabrina agreed, nodding.

Julie, Kelly, and Kris's laughter could be heard from the kitchen as they cleaned up. Frank was in the great room, reading a book from Sabrina's library. Suddenly, Kris disappeared.

"Where's Kris?" Tiffany asked, looking around.

"She was here a minute ago," Kelly said, turning around.

"Maybe she's in her room, sleeping. Or getting ready for the night," Julie suggested. She was wrong.

Kris was out on the deck with Sabrina.

"Thanks for the party, Sabrina," Kris said, smiling, genuinely appreciative. "I had a great time."

"I did, too," Sabrina said, taking a swig of her Samuel Adams. "I'm glad you're here with me, Kris."

"I am, too," Kris said. "I need to know something, though."

"What is it?"

"Wh-why are you doing this?"

"Because we're friends—and friends make friends feel like family."

"Look," Kris said, sighing. "I'm grateful for everything you've been doing so far, but..."

"But...?"

"I feel like you're overdoing it, Bri. This is your way of apologizing to me, isn't it?"

Sabrina nodded. "That... And it's a way of—"

"It's a way of...?" Kris prompted.

"Nothing. It's... It's nothing."

"Sabrina..." Kris pleaded.

"Alright," Sabrina said, sighing heavily. "I can't seem to forgive myself for what I did!"

"Bri," Kris said, frowning at her friend. "Get off the guilt-trip. It's a train ride to nowhere. Just like anger. Well, except it leads to the complete deterioration of a relationship."

"I'm glad we got off that train, you and me. The anger train, I mean."

"Me too, Bri, me too. Now, will you please forgive yourself and get off the guilt-trip train?"

"I promise," Sabrina said, smiling. "One thing, though..."

"What's that?"

"Don't tell Kelly? She made me promise not to talk to you about this."

"My lips are sealed," Kris said in a tone that was solemn, like someone taking an oath. "Now, come on. Let's get inside before they start to worry."

"Let's go," Sabrina said, getting up and helping Kris with her crutches. "I'm glad you forgave me, Kris."

"I'm just glad we're friends."