"Beverly, I'm here!"

Dolores's worried voice reached my ears, and I opened my eyes out of relief. I dried a tear off my cheek to hide my crying, even if it was impossible, and I listened carefully as Dolores carried her way from the hallway into my bedroom.

She had a key to my apartment, not only because I trusted her but also because there were moments when I needed her. Moments when I couldn't get out of bed to open up the door for her, or when I laid on the floor with drugs pumping through my blood, nearly unconscious and unable to move at all.

There were moments in the past, when she had to come and save me, and this moment was just like one of those.

I laid in my bed, buried under the cover with my arms around my knees. I had been waiting for Dolores only for about half an hour, but still it felt like a lifetime since I craved her caring proximity so desperately. I was afraid, terrified of being alone, even if I was perfectly safe in my apartment.

I needed her, I needed my dearest friend after what I had forced to go through with Brandon earlier today, and I was afraid that if she wouldn't have come, I might have used other expedients to get rid of the pain instead. Expedients like alcohol or... drugs.

"Dear god. What happened to you?" Dolores faltered as she laid her eyes on me. Her voice was troubled but filled with care, and I knew exactly what thoughts ran through her head  'Is she high?'.

I wasn't. I had been clean for years, and deep inside I knew that I had to stay away from it. I also knew it would take only a small passing of minutes until my savior would come. So I forced myself to hold out for my own best, and that's why I buried myself in my bed, and kept myself as prisoner under the heavy sheet.

I dried my running nose as I looked at Dolores where she sat beside me on the edge of the bed. She looked like an angel. An angel who had come to liberate me. I grabbed her hand and sobbed out. I was so relieved that she was finally here with me.

"Bev? Talk to me," Her words were persuasive, and her big doe eyes penetrated my soul desperately.

Of course I wanted to talk to her, but I couldn't manage to get the words out of my mouth since I was still paralyzed by the trauma.

There was so much I couldn't tell her either way, because it was against the law. Professional secrecy and patient integrity.

I closed my eyes again to enjoy Dolores's closeness, and I squeezed her hand where it was so perfectly placed in mine.

She remained silent as she noticed my inability to speak, and allowed the moment slowly to turn into serenity. She knew me too well to badger me, and instead, she just let me have my moment while staying by my side.

I cried out loud against her. The torturing pain made me shriek, I just wanted to get rid of it, and if Dolores wouldn't have been here with me, I would have done anything to settle down. The feeling inside of me was frightful, but so familiar. I immediately knew what my body wanted, and that's why I called for Dolores right away.

My heart began to slow down, and gently started to beat in pace with Dolores's calming hand motion. She stroked my head carefully back and forth, gently scratched my scalp in comfort. She knew exactly how to help me come back to reality.

She used her touch, only for me to use my sense to feel. She hummed quietly, only for me to use the sense of hearing. Then, she forced me to look at her, meet with her friendly, beautiful ocean-blue eyes, only for me to use the sense of vision. I calmed down from the panic, and slowly managed to breathe normally again.

My nails were no longer jamming the skin of my arm, and the tears started to dry out on my cheeks. I held one hand over my aching chest as I sipped from the glass of water Dolores handed me, and I took one last deep breath to allow myself to let go of the panic attack.

"Thank you, Dolores," My voice was weak and completely exhausted, but I expected nothing else after all my body was put through. Dolores stroked her soft hand over my flaming cheek.

"I will always be here to help you, darling," She cautioned as she smiled, showing a little bit of teeth.

"You are my saviour," I said and took another sip from the water to chill my still burning throat.

"I am your best friend," Dolores's friendly voice was determined and satisfied. This was so natural for her, just to come here and take care of me like I was her child. But she didn't visualise it that way. She just thought it was so naturally given to take care of me when I fell down into the darkness.

She never even hesitated to pick up the phone when I called for her, or when I begged her to come and rescue me, and for that I was forever grateful.

"Do you want to talk about it?" She asked carefully. I rubbed my red, swollen eyes and let out a loud sigh to clear my lungs. Of course I wanted to talk to her.

"I can't," The disappointment inside of me came through with my words. It was true. No matter how much I wanted to tell her everything about Brandon... I couldn't, because I wasn't allowed to.

I bit the cuticle of my thumb as I thought about the difficult situation I was in. I didn't know what to do. I felt so lonely. I couldn't talk to anyone, not even my best friend.

"It's okay, Bev. You don't have to, but you know I'm here for you if you change your mind," A smile formed my pulsating lips as I listened to Dolores's words, and I grabbed her hand again and stroked my thumb over the smooth, pale skin of hers. I loved her so much, she was just like a sister I never got to have.

"I know,"