Franzi said, 'Because YOU are my friend, and because YOU are not to blame for this.'

Emily shook her head "No" and asked, 'No. Why can't I be blame FOR THIS?'

Emily's judging herself was not going to stop until somebody either told her everything that was screaming in her mind, or when the screams softened down. Franzi shushed Emily and stroked her hair back and forth. It didn't take long for Emily to stop yelling what her conscience was saying, but it felt like hours. When Emily laid her fist down to Franzi's thigh, Emily let Franzi talk without snapping at herself.

Franzi whispered, 'Shhh. Take it easy, Emily. I'm not mad at you. It was an accident and it was NOT your fault. Try and hang on to that and everything will be alright.' Then Franzi stroked Emily's hair and whispered into Emily's ear, 'Trust me.' After that, Franzi lulled Emily to relax by singing "Symphonie" by Silbermond. It was a song about tragic breakup but it was the only thing Franzi could think of to calm Emily down. Four and a half minutes later, Emily was, on the surface, a child.

Emily sniffled and said, 'I....am....so...sorry.'

Franzi stroked and replied, 'Shh. Don't worry about it.'

Emily sniffled again and said, 'I can't help it. It's my nature now. No matter what I do, or don't do, I'm haunted by everything. The flatshare, the detox, rehab, the goddamn shrink...and the people.'

Franzi said, 'Ugh. Are they that terrible?'

Emily looked at Franzi's face and answered, 'They call me the coke killer.' Emily sneezed and said, 'Atleast they're creative. I could be a coke ho and have saying "Hi Ho" everytime one of them passed by me.'

Franzi said, 'Emily, forget those people. They don't deserve that kind of power over you.' That made Franzi remember her running out on her parents because her mother decided to swallow her shoes with her athlete's foot in them. 'You have the right to grieve for what happened. But not at the cost of your own dignity. Now...this pain..will last. But not forever.' Then Franzi put her hands under Emily's chin, faced her upward eye to eye, and said, 'You hear me? NOT....FOREVER.'

Emily cuddled back into Franzi's shoulder and said, 'Just don't make me go back out there.'

Franzi said, 'No. You can stay here as long as you need. We can talk and find out what else is going on. Anything.'

Emily sniffled and said, 'Thank you.'

Franzi said, 'You're welcome. Now, let's get off this cold floor and into a bed and chair.'

Franzi rose up and Emily held her grip and Franzi's hand like a support cane. Franzi had no trouble getting into bed, neither did Emily with a chair. Franzi still had some peaches left over from lunch. She offered them to Emily and Emily accepted.

Emily said, 'I haven't been able to eat almost for 2 days. It's just not that easy to let go of..you know.'

Franzi nodded and said, 'I know. But I'm getting out of here soon.'

Emily said, 'That's great. Good for you.'

Franzi observed, 'You sound a little hesitant right there.'

Emily scoffed and said, 'Ugh. I already have a doctor looking over me. I don't need an exam from my friend.'

Franzi said, 'Sorry. That wasn't what I intended.'

Embarrassed, Emily said, 'Oh boy. I'm sorry. I always think people are examining me or testing me. Ever since Dr. Caan spent a whole session asking me "What are you thinking" at the smallest face change.'

Franzi said, 'Well atleast your getting your exams from a shrink and not from a surgeon and a shrink. I don't even want to imagine what the bill is going to be for all this.'

That made Emily stop her eating and think for a moment. Then she just blurted out, 'You know...' then she froze and resumed, 'I want to...take care of...things.'

By "things", she meant all the bills for the hospital, the therapy, and all the trouble she caused at The Fasan. Franzi tried to refuse without patronizing Emily, but they agreeon a a fair 40/60 arrangement; Franzi would pay 40% of everything, Emily would deal with the 60%. There was no mention of the legal troubles and Emily wanted to keep it that way. In her mind, Franzi was already paying for what happened. They talked some more about her life so far. Emily went on about her sessions in therapy, 2 of which Philip and John attended, 1 of which where Philip burned a hole through Emily's heart.