Dare to Dream

31

(31)

Elaine was watching a movie with Troy when she heard the banging on her apartment door.

“What the…?”

As soon as Elaine opened the door, Gina fell crying into her arms.

“Gina, what’s wrong?”

Gina tried to speak, but the words were broken and accented with loud sobs.

Troy came to see what was happening.

“What is going on?”

Elaine shrugged her shoulders.

“I don't know.”

Gina’s legs gave out on her and she slumped to the floor, dragging Elaine to her knees.

“Troy, help me get her to the living room,” Elaine said, a worried look on her face.

Between the two of them, they managed to get Gina to the couch in the living room. Immediately she lay on the couch, facing inward and started crying loudly.

Troy looked lost.

“Close the front door,” Elaine said, calmly, “and get me a cold cloth and a glass of water.”

Troy nodded and left the living room.

Elaine knelt by Gina and gently turned her over, so she faced her. Gina’s face was red and her eyes were swollen.

“Sit up sweetie,” Elaine said, softly.

Gina was gasping for breath and her nose was running.

Elaine reached behind her and took a box of Kleenex off the coffee table. She passed it to Gina.

“Blow your nose, sweetie and try to calm down.”

Gina was still gasping for breath, but she managed to blow her nose and wipe some of the tears from her eyes.

Troy returned with a wet facecloth and a glass of water.

Elaine took the cloth and passed it to Gina.

“Here, wipe your face.”

Gina took the cloth and put it over her face.

Gradually, her breathing started to return to normal.

She wiped her face with the cloth and Elaine took it from her, immediately passing it to Troy.

“Wet it again, will you hun?”

Troy nodded and went off.

Elaine passed the glass of water to Gina.

“Tiny sips.”

Gina sipped the water, taking deep breaths after each sip.

Troy returned with the cloth. Elaine took it and motioned for him to leave.

He kissed Elaine on the lips and Gina on top of her head and then quickly left and went to the bedroom.

Elaine wiped her best friend’s face.

“Okay, now slowly, tell me what is going on.”

Gina sipped the water again and looked at Elaine.

“Dylan … I wanted to surprise him …”

The tears started filling her eyes again and her breathing became fast and forced.

Elaine sat next to her and put her arm around Gina’s shoulder.

“Shhh, shhh.”

She stroked Gina’s hair, calming her down.

Elaine spoke very gently.

“Okay, so you went to see Dylan.”

Gina took a deep breath.

“Dylan and another woman .. at his room.”

Elaine wanted to scream, but she knew she had to keep Gina calm or she would never find out what was happening.

“Are you saying Dylan was with another woman?”

Gina nodded.

“She told Dylan … I love you. I heard … her.”

Elaine closed her eyes, fighting to stay calm.

“You saw this?”

Gina sat back on the couch and stared at Elaine.

She took several long deep breaths and wiped her face with the wet cloth, she took from Elaine.

“They were going into Dylan’s room,” she said slowly.

“I heard them kissing.”

“That son of a bitch,” Elaine whispered to herself.

“She was young and beautiful,” Gina said sadly.

Elaine closed her eyes, searching for words to say. But at that moment, she was at a loss.

“Why would he do this to me?” Gina asked Elaine.

“I was in love with him. I trusted him. Oh my God. I let my kids spend time with him.”

Gina started talking faster and the gasping started again.

Elaine took her in her arms and held her tight.

Again she stroked her hair.

“That’s okay, baby.”

“No its not.”

Gina pulled away from Elaine and stood up.

“I trusted him. I … I … I … slept with him. I gave myself like a fucking fool.”

She started walking around the coffee table.

“I trusted that fucker with my kids. What if he did something to them? What if he is some kind of pervert or something?”