Ah, we've arrived at chapter 13! Unlucky for some, will it be for Karen? Read on to find out…

Chapter 13

Karen shut the door to her bedroom and locked it. She didn't want company tonight. She leaned back against the door, closing her eyes and sighing. There was just so much to take in. Her hand went to her stomach as she tried to comprehend everything that had happened in the past couple of hours. She gently caressed her, for the moment, flat stomach, wishing she could just make it all go away. The silence was unnerving; she needed noise, a distraction. Her eyes flitted over to the stereo; Grace's CD was still in there. She moved over to the silver machine and pressed play, skipping straight to the unheard track 4.

I cannot leave here, I cannot stay,
Forever haunted, more than afraid.
Asphyxiate on words I would say,
I'm drawn to a blackened sky, as I turn blue.

There are no flowers, no not this time,
There'll be no angels gracing the lines,
Just these stark words, I find.
I'd show a smile, but I'm to weak,
I'd share with you, could I only speak,
Just how much this, hurts me.

Karen was still as she absorbed the words sung by the male singer. 'Could the words fit any more perfectly?' she thought. "I'd share with you, could I only speak, just how much this hurts me." She needed to tell Grace, about the baby, but she…couldn't. She couldn't stand to see that face again, the one Will gave her. That look of distaste and shock. She didn't know if she could take it again. It was all becoming too much.

I cannot stay here, I cannot leave
Just like all I loved, I'm make-believe
Imagined heart, I disappear
Seems...no one will appear here and make me real

There are no flowers, no, not this time
There will be no angels gracing the lines
Just these stark words I find
I'd show a smile, but I'm to weak
I'd share with you could I only speak
Just how much this hurts me

Karen could once more feels those familiar tears winding their way slowly down her willowy cheek. Hormones, that's what made her so emotional these days…or at least that's what she told everybody. Truth was, she was hurting. Her life had suddenly become a rollercoaster, and she wanted off. Everytime she thought it had calmed down, another drop came, plunging her down, deep into the darkness. She thought her friends were her harness, but that was coming loose and now she was terrified it was going to disappear altogether. There seemed to be no way to stop it. Every time things went right, another ghost from her past would appear and destroy the relationships she needed to build.

Karen picked up the CD case and opened it, hoping to find a playlist inside. Instead, she found a small note from Grace. Puzzled that she had not noticed it before, she sat down on her bed to read what her friend had written to her.

Hey Karen!

Hope you're enjoying the CD! It took me ages to make, computers really don't like me! I hope it works, next time I'm definitely going to ask Will for help. I think he's better at this sort of thing than me!

I'm writing this at work, you've just gone out to buy an coat or a country or something, as usual. It's always really quiet when you've gone out or haven't come in, almost eerie. As much as I complain, I do like having you around and I do miss you when you're not here. I know we joke around and say things that could be…well…kinder, but I just want you to know that I'm here for you, ok? You're probably laughing at me now, thinking of the terrible outfit I must be wearing whilst I'm writing this, but I'm being serious, Karen. As much as we'd both hate to admit it, you're a friend and I care about you. Maybe it's just me, but you've seemed a bit down these last few days. I hope this CD will cheer you up a bit, Track 11 will especially! Just think of me and my hairbrush!

Well, if you've read this far and not thrown the letter in the bin, I'll be surprised! Oh, there's a noise outside. That'll be Jack coming to look for you. He's always at a loose end when you're not around to be his audience.

I'll see you tomorrow - if you come in!

Grace

xxx

Karen was taken back. Grace's words had lit something inside of her. "I just want you to know that I'm here for you." The words kept repeating themselves in her head. "I'm here for you…I'm here for you." No words had ever meant so much to Karen than those at that time. She quickly turned to Track 11, curious at the song Grace was so determined would cheer Karen up. From the first bass notes, Karen laughed. She knew what it was.

When she really concentrated, Grace had a tendency to hum to herself. One day, she was humming the introduction to this song so Karen, upon recognising it, joined in with the words. Grace proceeded to dance and Karen abruptly stopped singing but ever since then, it'd been known as their work song.

Tumble out of bed and I stumble to the kitchen
Pour myself a cup of ambition
And yawn and stretch and try to come to life.
Jump in the shower and the blood starts pumping
Out on the street the traffic starts jumping
With folks like me on the job from nine to five.

Karen smiled, remembering what Grace had said to her. "I'm surprised you know this song Karen. You definitely don't work nine to five!" Looking back through the letter, she knew that Grace was right, they did joke around most of the time. She would say something about Grace's hair or clothes and Grace would respond with a comment about Karen's punctuality or work. But in reality, she knew that they were only joking and she did care for Grace, much deeper than she'd ever truly thought she would or indeed could. Now that she knew Grace thought the same, a confidence was alive inside of her and as the rest of the Dolly Parton song played out, Karen picked up the phone and dialled Grace's number.

"Hi, Grace? It's Karen. I've got something to tell you. Can you come over?"

Remember to R&R!