Olivia was locking up her office after a long day. It had been a hard first week, comparisons to Robert, 'Professor Bridge said this', 'Professor Bridge did that', over and over again. She was beginning to tire of saying, 'Well I'm not Robert, I'm Olivia and this is how I do things'. The one thing that kept her going was the thought of going to see Alison. Even though it had been a week, she trusted her. She had told her more things than she had ever told anyone before. Even Robert and Craig. She was so happy that it was her that Robert had trusted enough to look out for her. He could easily have asked Jude or Barb to do it but he had asked her. She sighed as she walked towards her car, laptop in one arm, tin of biscuits in the other. She struggled to open her car, and dropped the biscuits. 'Sh..'

'No need to swear prof'

'God, Matt don't do that' Olivia turned to see one of her students, Matt Tyler picking up the biscuits, and smiling at her. Matt was one of the only students to not make comparisons. He was 25 and in his first year of University after working in Africa since his A-levels. 'Where are you off to, with a tin of…' he read the tin 'Danish water biscuits?'

'None of your business'

'Why not?

'Because it's not

'You should be marking essays, not going to tea parties!'

'So?'

'I want you to read my fantastic essay on the, what was it, oh yeah, 'the mind of the medium''

'Look, I'm meeting a friend, haven't you got anything better to do than to...'

'Flirt?' Matt flashed her another smile. Olivia was shocked and couldn't help blushing. Matt blushed too. She fumbled with her keys as Matt stood awkwardly behind her. She finally opened the door and dumped her laptop in the passenger seat before grabbing the tin of biscuits and placing them in the seat. She got in the car and issued Matt with a warning glare, before slamming her door and driving off. As she exited the campus she couldn't help but look at Matt in her wing mirror. 'Snap out of it' she told herself. She fumbled with her car radio and settled back as she made the familiar trip to Alison's house.

Alison sat in her bedroom. The curtains were flung open and light filled the room. She once again looked at the manuscript that Robert had left her:

Alison,

Over the last two years my life has changed massively and it is all down to your influence, your extraordinary love and unique gift for life. Nothing will ever be the same and I am so glad that I met you. I have always needed a soul mate and you will always be mine.

All my love Robert.

Tears once again rolled down her face and she picked up the script and held it close to her chest. Robert was so near and yet so far.

It had been a week since Olivia had first knocked on her door, ending her drinking binge. It was strange. She felt like she had known Olivia for much longer than a week. In that week she had learnt all about her as a person, her lonely childhood, dealing with her mothers cancer, her fathers new wife, losing her best friend and husband within months of each other, and yet she was still smiling. It made her think, she wished that she could help Olivia as much as Robert had helped her.

She remembered the night that he had turned up on her doorstep with her estranged father. To think that she had almost turned him away, but she couldn't do that to Robert. Thinking of that night brought back so many memories of Robert. How he had kissed her on the doorstep. It was only a peck on the cheek, but it meant so much, so much more now, after reading his note. She began to cry again. She placed the manuscript back on the bed and lay down. If only he had told her things could be different, but then she wouldn't ever have met Olivia. The girl in the yellow dress waked Alison from these thoughts. Alison had seen her everyday of the week, just before and just after Olivia visited. 'Who are you?' Alison asked. The girl just smiled and pointed at the door. She waved and vanished, just as Alison heard the door being knocked on.