She didn't know how long she cried there, being comforted like a child, but she felt calmer after a while and slipped out of the embrace. At some point they'd moved to a couch in the room without letting go of one another. Neither one had spoken the whole time.
"I never thanked you for saving me. You must think I'm a terrible person," Shelly said as she worked to dry her cheeks. She couldn't even lift her eyes to look at Mandy. "Among other things," she added without meaning to.
"You mean like fucking my boyfriend, or running away, or… Shit, sorry. That's not what I meant to say," Mandy soothed her tone. Shelly finally looked up at her, and noted that her eyes were red and puffy as though she'd been crying as well. "Oh, don't give me that look because of my language," Mandy cracked a small smile as she attempted to lighten the mood. "Not everything was your fault, and even the parts that were, turned out okay in the end."
