She watched as the midnight traffic slowed to a halt at the stoplight. The rain falling down got in her eyes and turned everything in front of her into a giant blur as she made her way towards her destination. She knew that she was up there, she could see her. She couldn't make out her features, the shape of her eyes, the curve of her lips at her smile, but she knew. She had studied her figure, her presence, her being, long enough to know even in the dark, even in the shadows. It was her. It had to be. He's not there, he can't be. This vision, no matter how obscure, she can take it all for herself. Only for her, no one else.

But in an instant, she disappeared. As if she had imagined her there. Perhaps she had. She had gotten pretty good at conjuring up an image whenever she needed to.

She needed to linger in the pouring rain. At least she could feel something tonight. If nothing else, she could concentrate on the raindrops dancing on her shoulders, sliding down her back, her red locks turning dark and heavy with each drop. Grace leaned against the building and closed her eyes for a minute, trying to imagine what this night would have been like if she didn't walk away, if she wasn't just a figment of imagination.

What was she thinking? She needed to see her, the real her, not just the image she can make appear out of nowhere. The one she truly loved, it was so clear to her now. She needed to watch her as her lips began to curve in a smile, she needed to feel the name escape her own. She needed to feel those two syllables in her mouth, waiting to be set free, Karen. Grace imagined taking her in her arms, never wanting to let her go, as if she needed to cling to Karen, if she needed to feel Karen's body against her own, to live, to survive, to get anywhere in life.

She slowly opened her eyes as the light turned green and the traffic slowly began to gain the force it once had. She started to make her way to the corner of the street, waiting for the cars to stop again, so she could safely make her way back to her home.

Until she felt someone hold her back.

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The nights without Stan had been peaceful but, she had to admit, lonely. She may no longer love him, she may no longer think of him in the way she used to think of him, but to have him around as some sort of company was comforting for her. At least someone was there for her. But now that he left, away to some sort of exotic location for a reason she had by now forgotten, Karen finally realized the one thing she had hoped never to know.

She was completely alone. She had no one.

But then she saw that gorgeous figure braving late-night speeders, walking in her direction. At first, looking out her window, she thought it couldn't be real, that the sleep she had been deprived of for the last couple of nights now had been responsible for this vision, that maybe this is a dream, and if she opens her eyes, she'll be in bed, wishing she hadn't woken up. But as Karen saw her come closer and closer, and she could begin to make out the features, she knew that this was real. And she knew that she needed to touch her. She needed to feel like she had someone in this world.

She rushed down the stairs and outside her building to find Grace with her back against the wall, eyes closed, rain beating on her skin. Watching her took Karen's breath away. She was amazed at how, even with the rain making her makeup run down her face in a stream, she was absolutely perfect in every way. When she saw Grace's eyes slowly open, she knew that this was her chance, hoping that Grace would feel the same way (she did not come here just to be in the rain after all, she figured). But as Grace began to make her way back to where she started, Karen was scared of losing her so quickly. She grabbed a hold onto Grace's arm, like a little child not wanting to let go of anything they could get their hands on. She pulled back just as quickly, afraid that she had gone too far, as if she was never really supposed to touch her, as if that was a right that she was not afforded. She closed her eyes, trying to keep the tears inside as the rain ran down her face. Just turn around, go back inside, she told herself. If she moved, she was certain her legs would give immediately, but at the same time she wanted to run, make sure Grace just thought it was her imagination, that she was just feeling things and none of this was real.

But as the tears began their escape from their eyes, Grace caught them on her cheek with a kiss. For a moment, Karen wondered if she could taste the mixture of rain and tears, if she even cared. As Grace pulled away, she opened her eyes to find herself staring at a smiling face.

"Grace," she began, whispering. She loved to say her name.

"Shhh," Grace interrupted, softly pressing her index finger to Karen's lips. Karen could feel it as her fingers started to crawl the length of her spine. They began to sway, a sort of dance to the rhythm of their hearts and the rain pounding on the ground. Just to feel the weight of Grace against her body, to feel her, just to be around her.

It was perfect.

Grace took it upon herself to start humming, any random notes, any random tune, letting the music playing in her heart escape. They could not feel the rain beating down on their bodies, they could not sense the cars and cabs struggling to get across the way. They could not hear any noise the city tends to give.

They could feel each other as they kissed once more, they could sense each other, they could feel each other.

That's all they needed.

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When Grace opened her eyes after the kiss, she was no longer staring at Karen. She watched, confused, as her ceiling fan whirled around and around so fast you could not catch it, again and again. It would never get tired. She put her hand to her hair, feeling around for some evidence of the night she had just experienced. Her hair was dry. No, this couldn't be. She was just at the street corner, in Karen's arms, dancing to the music they created together. She got out of bed and stood at her mirror and realized she had on the same clothes she went to bed in, not the ones she was wearing with Karen.

It was all a dream. But with her fantasy came realization.

The one she truly loved.

She had to see Karen again.

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When Karen opened her eyes after the kiss, she was no longer staring at Grace. She was staring at the space that Stan had once occupied, while they were sleeping. She was thankful that she did not wake up to him by her side, for she would feel guilt that she felt she didn't deserve. How fair is it to feel guilty over something that is so right, that is so perfect?

She wanted to go back to sleep, she wanted to leave this world and return to the one where she can be with Grace and no one would seem to mind. But no matter how hard she tried, she just couldn't find her way into that world. And as she lay on her bed, wide awake, the truth came hurtling towards her.

She was completely alone. She had no one.