Dana sat in the bathtub trying to relax while she replayed the day in her mind.  She still couldn’t believe her nightmares had already happened.  That it was her minds was of interpreting what was going on around her in the hospital. 

“Lara, what the hell were you thinking?  Alice probably thinks I hate her for yelling at you, but I don’t.  She was right.  You left when I was at my worst, disappeared to Paris for months and what?  Came back expecting everything to be okay, pretending that nothing ever happened?”  Dana shut her eyes trying to stop the angry thoughts of Lara that kept going through her mind.  She began to think about her first nightmare, trying to understand why she was walking away from Alice and to suddenly turn around and run to her.  Dana clearly remembered the nightmare, running toward Alice screaming her name, and falling into the sand weak and tired when she couldn’t reach her.  “Holy shit!”  Dana’s eyes became large as she thought about the dream.  She looked toward the ceiling and whispered “thank you” as a tear trickled down her cheek. 

After soaking until she looked like a prune, Dana finally climbed from the tub and got ready for bed.  When she turned out her light, she looked down the hall to see if Alice’s light was still on.  Dana thought about going to check on Alice, but she was too weak.  So she slowly dragged herself to bed, hoping Alice was okay.  Dana was tired, but she was still tense and struggled to fall asleep. 

_____

Dana opened her eyes and stared at the clock.  She let out an exaggerated sigh when the clock only said 3:58.  As Dana shut her eyes she heard a noise and her eyes quickly opened again.  Dana had her back to her door and was unsure of what she heard, figuring she has just imagining things.  She slowly rolled over toward the door.  “Alice?”

Alice was sitting on the edge of the chair in Dana’s room.  “Are you okay?  I heard you sigh.”

“I’m fine, I’m just having trouble sleeping tonight.”  Dana was still confused at Alice’s presence, yet she could hear the worry in Alice’s voice and knew she should calm her fears before asking about her presence.