"So we're cool, you say" said Sacha. "You and me."

"Sure, why not."

Sacha shook her head. "Don't bullshit me, Rona. Please. We're not cool, and you know it as well as I do."

"You're fond of that word, aren't you?" replied Rona sardonically. "'Bullshit'?"

Sacha threw her hands up in exasperation. "There you go!" she said. "You see? That's what I'm talking about." She dropped her head, and with her finger gently pushed her teacup by the handle in circles in the middle of the saucer. "Look" she said, "you've got a right to be angry. I don't' deny that for a second -"

"Big of you."

"- But - I don't know, this'll sound stupid, like it's even up to me, but - but I don't want you to be angry. It was a good friendship, wasn't it? Maybe I'm being naïve, but I want to go back to how we were before. That's what I want." She looked up at Rona, and then off to the side, , embarrassed. "Well, that and being able to say all that without sounding like I'm in a Tom Hanks movie."

Rona frowned. "It takes time, Sacha. It's not something that can just be switched on and off."

"I know that" said Sacha.

"So why are you asking?"

"Because there must be something I can do." Sacha looked at her pleadingly. "I can't just sit here and hope everything gets better."

This must be so hard for you thought Rona a little guiltily, I know you're not this kind of person. "Sacha" she said, and paused. She wanted to choose her words carefully. "It was a really good friendship -" Sacha's heart pounded giddily at Rona's use of the past-tense - "and you're right, it would be great if it was still the same. And I hope it gets back to that some time, really I do. And - well to tell you the truth, you're doing everything you need to. It's just gonna take time."

Sacha shrugged. "I've gotta tell you Rona" she started, and laughed experimentally, "I'm not a very patient person."