***I walk along a thin line darling
Darks shadows follow me
Heres where lifes dram lies
disillusioned
The edge of reality

Oh I can hear strange voices echo
Laughing with mockery
The border line of doom Im facing
The edge of reality***


There shouldnt be words here. No one speaks my name anymore. And why the laughter? There really shouldnt be laughter here. I know Im a fool, – they dont have to remind me. Please, please just let me bury myself in sweet silence. I just want to sleep

Bette? Are you okay? Are you sick?

No, it cant be them; the walls are silent as they promised to be. And the ceiling doesnt use my name. Words are not welcome here anymore. They hurt, silence never do. You promised me no more words. You promised me the sound of silence.

Oh my God, Bette!

Warmth caressing my face. I sleep now. Finally. I cant even remember a touch anymore, its been so long, but it feels like one in this dream. Im finally asleep. Just like I wanted Thank you Thank you

*********************************************

What happened? Shane asked calmly. Is she okay?

Dana paced the floor franticly and Alice watched her nervously, hands shaking slightly.

Tina was calm – or at least appeared so. The doctor said she is dehydrated. She havent been sleeping properly, maybe not at all, and shes practically – and this is the doctors words, not mine – anorecticly undernourished.

Is that even a word? Dana stopped her pacing for a moment. Anorecticly? I mean, why invent even more words to confuse people, I really dont She mumbled something no one could understand and began her pacing again.

I knew something was wrong, why didnt I DO something? Im usually a doer, arent I? Im her friend, why didnt I DO something? An Alice close to a nervous breakdown wasnt something any of them were used to deal with.

Shane was about to try and calm her friend down, when Dana beat her to it and engulfed Alice in a hug so long and warm that it brought tears to Tinas eyes. She remembered hugs like that and yearned for one right now. She desperately fought the urge to just let go and cry for everything lost and for an unclear future she had no idea how to enter.

Two strong armed closed around her from behind. These arms may not be the ones you really want right now, Shanes husky voice caressed her ear. But as long as you need them, theyll be near.

And then Tina can’t hold back the tears anymore.

*********************************************

I want out of my life, Bette! Completely!

Laughter.

Youre a fired, Miss Porter. Im the one in charge now.

Laughter.

Im with Helena now, Bette; the least you can do for me is respecting that!

Laughter.

Stop the voices; I had silence – where did it go? Why the laughter? Why? I cant take it. Im not nearly as strong as you might think.

Laughter.

No more, please. I dont need to hear it anymore – I understand, I finally understand Im sorry, Im so, so sorry

*********************************************

Should we call Helena or something, Dana whispered and Alice nearly jumped out of her arms.

What?!

For Tinas sake, Al, they ARE having a.. a relationship whether we like it or not.

Alice sighed. I guess youre right, but I sure as ***** wont phone her. If Tina hasnt called her by now, why should we? Maybe Tina wants to handle this on her own?

Al

Ill ask her though, Ill ask her.

No need, Shane said. Shes not in town right now.

Finally a nice timing from that woman, Alice sighed in relief. Wheres Tina?

Bathroom.

Bette would have known what to do in a situation like this, Dana blurted out. And I have no ***** idea!

Alice nodded, for once not giving Dana a hard time for not thinking before speaking – and for speaking the words all of them thought, but none of them dared to voice.

They all stared at each other. Shane was the first one to break the intenseness of the situation. We have to deal with this somehow. Help them. Both of them. Even if we may not agree with the way they chose to live their lives. Or with whom. She caught Alices eyes.

Yep, Yoda, I hear you.

They all laughed a bit, the tension lightened a bit, but it came back in full force when they heard Tinas strained voice: I have to go.

tbc
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