I guess that's unfortunate for her" Miranda said, when Rona had finished telling her about what had happened to Sacha. "I mean it sucks."

"You don't sound convinced" Rona observed.

"Well I mean it's not exactly the end of the world, is it? I mean she can just move on like the rest of us do." Miranda frowned. "Sorry, am I sounding like a bitch?"

"No, no" Rona assured her, ever-aware of trying keep the peace when at home. "Well maybe, a little bit. But it's understandable."

"Because of what I've been through?" Miranda asked wryly.

Rona didn't say anything. She was too worried about what she might say.

"Well you're right" Miranda continued. "I guess I'm less empathetic since Will."

"I can understand that" Rona told her. She'd been working so hard at regaining her own empathy, she knew how easy it was to let it slip.

"I'm just finding it a bit hard not at the moment to feel too cut up about other people's relationship dramas" Miranda explained. "Or lack-of-relationship dramas."

"You're still missing him."

"Fuck, every day!" Miranda slumped her head dramatically into her folded arms. She straightened up again like a giant rising from the earth.

"But it's my own fault" she said. "I never should've fallen so hard for him. I knew what would happen. It's not like he ever lied about what his plans were, or about who he was."

"If he had you wouldn't have fallen for him" Rona suggested. "He was rakish" she added, not knowing where she'd drawn the word from but pleased at her vocabulary.

"I guess so. He paid attention to me, too. Not all the time, but he's one of those guys who . . . When he's talking to you, it's the only thing. The only thing."

"He never did that to me" Rona said, not disappointed but puzzled.

"No, well, I guess he could turn it on and off whenever he wanted."

"That's kind of a bit of an arsehole move" Rona said.

"Yeah, well, he's kind of a bit of an arsehole, isn't he?"

"Doesn't stop us though, does it" Rona observed ruefully.

"Only eggs us on" Miranda agreed. She perked up. "Hey," she joked, "this Phillip guy - you reckon he needs a place to live? Or knows anyone who does?"