Stages of Heartache

1. Denial

"Not today Ally, I'm not really in the mood," Camila stood in the doorway of her very spacious house, refusing to let her best friend in.

"Are you sure? Because we haven't gone for coffee in a while," Ally replied as she stood outside; coffee was practically a daily occurrence for the two best friends and it had been for years.

"I've just got other things to do today, maybe some other time," Camila went on to close the door but Ally held it open with her hand, just barely avoiding it getting slammed in the door.

"You're not even going to invite me in?" She questioned innocently.

"Like I said, it's not really a good time."

"Well, when is it a good time? I call you like everyday and you don't answer my calls. Or if you do answer you make up some excuse and say you'll call back but you never do, Mila."

Camila shrugged, lying was taking up so much of her energy, "I've been busy."

"With what? You don't do anything, you don't talk to anyone. I know that you aren't talking to Dinah or Mani or your friends from work. You just sit at home, when was the last time you left your house?"

"I have to go, Emma's calling me," Camila began; she didn't want to hear it, not from Ally, not from anyone.

"I don't hear anything," Ally put her hands on her hips; she was trying so hard not to back down on this. She was so worried about her best friend, they all were.

"She's sick, a really bad fever. I'll talk to you later, I promise," And with that Camila slammed the door in her best friend's face without a second thought.

Ally sighed and walked back to her car, once she had pulled out of the driveway she pulled out her phone, "No go."

"That's what I was afraid of," Lauren sighed as she pulled her SUV into her parents' driveway. "Hey listen, thanks for trying."

"You're welcome; I just wish that I would have been able to get her out of the house."

"I thought it was getting better..."

"Lauren, it'll be alright, she'll come around in her own time."

"I'm not sure; I've never seen her like this."

"Trust me, she's just going through a hard time, she's grieving."

"I know."

"How are you? How are you doing? I know this is hard on you too."

"I'm alright; I'm just worried about Camila." She was just as upset as her wife was but she didn't have the luxury of isolating herself from everyone around her. She did have another child who at least needed one functioning parent; she had to be there for Emma.

"You're a wonderful wife, she loves you, you know."

"I know. Listen I'm picking Emma up from my parents' house so I'll talk to you later. Thanks again."

"Wait, you're picking up Emma? Camila said that she was sick."

"Is that what she told you?," Lauren sighed, "I'm so sorry."