She was miserable and avoided old friends although one day she was forced to agree to meet Belinda Ruth downtown at the library. because (heartbreak or no) one just cannot give up living because life is no longer worth living or one's friends and go live in a cave because love is a lie -

5

Belinda Ruth was waiting for her at the library with a prim look that suggested she knew that something had gone wrong but what she had no idea but with the patient tact

of an old friend she was confident she knew how to learn she smiled.

Natalie smiled back and broke into tears and taking her by the hand into the

women's lavatory she cried her heart out

and told Belinda the whole story

which Belinda has never suspected: who can you trust these days? No, she would

never have a thought a thing like that

about Anne, whom she knew vaguely in passing.

Was it so terrible? Natalie

broke down in a second fit of crying -

Belinda was angry with her;

but her heart melted

because she saw herself in Natalie's place

and her heart suddenly melted for her friend

and she understood she thought and yet

wondered if Natalie had really been in love with Anne

at all and if so could they be? but no-

No, that was silly. She put the thought out of

her mind.

11