Part 20

Life has a funny habit on carrying on whether you want it to or not. The next two weeks were difficult for all of those involved and close to Alice and Dana.  Alice’s recovery was slower  than she had anticipated, her headaches surfaced at least once a day and her mobility was still a slow painful shuffle, her cast was due off in few weeks time but she knew that wasn’t the main route of her problem.  It had taken a while for it all to sink in and for her to realise that her recovery in hospital may have been fast, but she had to understand she may never get back to feeling 100%.  It wasn’t just her physical symptoms that bothered her either.

Dana on the other hand was feeling like no progress was being made.  She was due her last chemo treatment the following day and the last two had been the worst.  She was exhausted 24/7, could hardly keep anything down, and when she wasn’t in pain or asleep she was trying to fuss over Alice.  She was scared.  She knew Alice was struggling with her recovery while at the same time worrying about her.  They had both been tired, sore and quiet that it sometimes seemed that they were fighting independent, private battles albeit for each other.

The night before Dana’s last chemo a young woman was tossing and turning in her bed, was soaked with sweat and shouting out in her sleep.

“Al” Dana whispered trying to gently shake Alice awake

“Al!” she said a little more forcefully.

As Alice stopped tossing and turning and started to wake she opened her eyes where she found Dana’s beautiful eyes staring at her with a worried expression,

“Al, it’s ok, you’re ok, you were having a nightmare”

Alice made to sit up, pain shooting through her head; her breathing was rapid, her heart beating frantically and her shorts and vest top stuck to her with the sweat. She sat in a daze for a moment trying to shake the last of her nightmare.  Dana gently held Al and tried to help her calm down. “It’s ok babe, I’m here. You’re ok.”