After All These YEARS

Thirty Two

OUT IN THE OPEN

No One's POV

Putting her arm around Lisa, Irene slowly helped the very drunk girl back across the roof to the stairs. Despite their little breakthrough, Irene could see that Lisa was still very upset. She didn't speak, but only cried.

After one or two times where she fell to the ground, Irene managed to get Lisa back in the apartment. She was glad she got her inside when she did, as not more than a minute later it started pouring outside.

"You need to get into bed Lisa." Irene said as she eased Lisa in the doorway.

Lisa moaned forlornly, then mumbled. "Back to the couch."

That made Irene who already felt pretty rotten, feel worse. They had been intimate more than once and she made Lisa sleep on the couch. It occurred to Irene just then that not once did Lisa ever complain about it.

For a solid moment, Irene gave some deep thought what exactly was right and wrong. Ultimately she concluded it was wrong to leave Lisa on the couch like that. Lisa needed love and affection that could make whatever they had between them grow and Irene put a stop to that. All because she was too afraid and wanted to live in the past.

Irene shook her head. "I won't be afraid any longer. Lisa, you're coming bed with me. You need me and.... I need you."

Lisa who was still crying just put her head on Irene's shoulder and sobbed. It made sense that Lisa kept crying, it was obvious now that Lisa had held a lot in and only now was releasing it. Irene also knew that her words earlier had wounded Lisa pretty badly and that made her feel terrible.

She then helped Lisa into the bedroom and stripped her out of her wet clothes, then with a towel from the bathroom dried her off. All the while, Lisa just cried and cried.

Irene then slid Lisa into bed, stripped out of her wet clothes, dried herself off and crawled into bed with Lisa. Lisa immediately rolled over and put her arms around her with a soft whimper.

"Please let me love you." The drunk, upset and still somewhat wounded Lisa pleaded before she passed out in Irene's arms.

Irene didn't know much about how people who prefer the same sex are treated here. Lisa had made one or two comments about how it was generally accepted but they had barely spoken in the last 2 weeks. So Irene never really got a chance to clarify what that all meant.

But regardless if it was accepted or not, her heart told her that being with Lisa was the place for her.

"I love you Lili." Irene said before closing her eyes.

Irene awoke the next morning with a snoring Lisa still clinging to her. It felt wonderful to wake up with the raven haired beauty. Needing to go to the bathroom she slowly extracted herself from Lisa's arms and left her sleeping peacefully on the bed.

After using the bathroom, Irene remembered something. In the folder of notes there appeared to be a journal much like the one she wrote in. She never got a chance to look at it last night.

"It's only fair." Irene said as she opened the book.

The book was a journal that Lisa had kept during her time in 1869. Not able to resist, Irene took the journal, poured herself a glass of milk and sat down at the small table in the kitchen.

Of all the modern wonders, Irene did like the refrigerator. She loved being able to have a glass of cold milk or water whenever she liked.

Irene read an entry.