“Are you feeling okay?  Did you have another nightmare?  It didn’t seem like you were dreaming.”  Alice continued to sit on the edge of the chair, staring at Dana and accessing her as much as possible from a distance. 

“No I didn’t have a nightmare and I feel okay.  I’m just tense and not sleeping good tonight.”

“Oh.”  Alice lowered her head and focused her attention on a spot on the floor, one that was impossible to see in the dark though she tried her best to.

“Al, what are you doing?”

“Nothing.  I…ah… couldn’t sleep either so I came to check on you.”

“Come here please.”  Dana tapped the bed next to her hoping Alice would join her.  Alice looked up at Dana and hesitated before walking across the room to Dana’s bed.  Alice wasn’t sure what Dana wanted so she just stood at the side of the bed waiting for Dana to tell her what to do.  Dana pulled back the covers.  “Lay down with me.”  Alice had a concerned look on her face, but Dana spoke before she could.  “It’s okay.  Just lay down with me.  You can leave at any time if you feel uncomfortable.”  Alice closed her eyes for a second debating what to do.  She knew Dana was still too weak to do anything sexual, but she still didn’t know why Dana wanted her to lie in bed with her.  She lay down in bed facing Dana making sure to keep a bit of distance between them.

Dana felt the distance and sensed the tenseness in Alice’s body.  “When was the last time you slept in a bed?” 

The question came out of no where and Alice opened her eyes wide, looking at Dana like a deer in headlights.  “Um…What do you mean?  I…ah…slept in bed last night.”

“Alice please don’t lie to me.  I thought I saw you sleeping in the chair before, but figured my meds were messing with me and I was just imagining it.  But I wasn’t, was I?”

“No.”  Alice said shyly, waiting for Dana to yell at her.

“It’s ok.”  Alice’s eyes suddenly opened again.  She wasn’t expecting Dana to say that.  “You haven’t slept in a bed all night since the hospital have you?”