Another new day had rolled around for Elena, the previous day had been full of raced emotions and daydreams that nearly got herself into trouble. She felt alone and tired, none of her close family lived nearby while she didn't quite get on with George's family who at first disapproved of their quick marriage. Whenever would people learn that age is only just a number?

Elena sat and watched the phone in silence. She just wanted her friend Kath to ring her and help take her mind of stuff but she had heard nothing from her since the funeral.

'As if my life couldn't get more depressing,' said Elena to herself, 'No-one wants me.'

Suddenly as if by magic, the phone rang.

Elena jumped out of her skin, 'Wow! I did not expect that to happen.' 

Slowly, she picked up the phone, 'Hello?'

'Ms Mead? asked a female voice which wasn't Kath's.

'Yes...' replied Elena slowly, 'You are speaking to her.'

'My name is Dawn Italy. I am from a support group which deals in bereavement and support.'

There was a embarrassed silence before she replied, 'Um, I am not interested thank you.' replied Elena slowly.

'You were referred to our support group. Your case is on our top priority list.' said Dawn.

'What? I didn't refer myself,' questioned Elena, 'I think you have made a mistake.'

'No, no mistake, your boss did from your work. Said you needed help as you having difficulties with the whole situation.' replied Dawn.

Elena felt rather hurt that her boss Reanna would go behind her back and do something like that, that was a rotten thing to do.

'Hello?...' asked Dawn, 'Ms Mead?'

Elena took a second to recover, 'Yes, I am here.'

'As part of our bereavement group, we need to arrange a home visit. I understand you are not at work today correct?' confirmed Dawn.

'Look, I understand that my boss is just worried about me since I am a valuable asset to the firm,' said Elena, 'But I don't need any professional help at this time.'

'Ms Mead. I beg you to reconsider,' said Dawn, 'At least give the home visit a chance.'

But by now since the conversation had started, Elena had made up her mind, 'I'm sorry but I am not interested.'

She placed the phone down on the hook before Dawn could reply.

'I could have known about this. Behind my back gossip which is completely a waste of time,' thought Elena, 'From my own work mates!'

A few hours later, Elena had settled down in the kitchen. She was trying to cook some lunch trying to take her mind off about the phone call from earlier. The noise she dreaded came just after she had sat down with some pasta and a can of cola.

Elena took a deep breath and opened the door and saw Kath standing outside.

'Oh Kath!' said Elena, 'Nice to see you.'

'Just calling round to see if you were OK,' said Kath, 'Your boss gave the support group my number. They called me...'

'And asked you to come around and beg me to reconsider,' finished Elena, 'The answer is still no.'

Kath sighed, 'Look, remember what happened to that boy in our class?'

Elena paused, 'Which boy was that?'

'The one in the upper school. In the Fourth Form,' said Kath, 'You know, Jake.'

Elena clicked her fingers for a split second, 'Of course! I remember.'

Elena and Kath slowly walked to Biology.

'I hope that Mr Oster doesn't give us that test,' said Kath, 'I am seriously not in the mood.'

Elena nodded, 'Down with tests.'

Just as the pair of them approached their classroom, a boy came racing out.

'Is that Jake?' asked Elena, 'He looks like a mad bull.'

Kath stared, 'Yeah, it does look like it.'

Both of them raced over to Jake who was kneeled down on the floor in a tear stained mess.

'Oh Jake,' whispered Elena, 'Ssssh.'

Jake was completely overwhelmed as his body shook.

'What has happened?' asked Kath.

'I got to go to this support group. My sister...' trailed Jake who burst into fresh tears.

Both of them looked at each other with a heavy heart. They had known that Jake's sister Annie had died from an illness.

'It will be fine,' said Kath, 'Trust me.'

Elena nodded, 'I agree with Kath. It will help you.'

'Earth to Elena?' said Kath, 'You are completely off focus.'

'So?' questioned Elena, 'I was trying to remember what happened to Jake.'

'All the more reason for you to get this support from the support group,' said Kath, 'Do you really want to live the rest of your life like this?'

'No but this is only a phase that I can go through alone without anyone's help.' replied Elena with crossed arms.

'Good luck.' whispered Kath as she took her leave from the room leaving Elena to face a woman that she had never met before in her life now standing by the front porch.

'Dawn Italy,' said Dawn, 'We spoke on the phone.'

'Yes, yes we did. I'm Elena Mead.' replied Elena.

Both of them sat down on the chairs in the living room.

'Now, tell me how long you knew George for?' asked Dawn.

'For quite a long time. We had been married for nine years.' said Elena.

'What did your family think of that?' asked Dawn.

'My family were supportive but George's family were not,' replied Elena, 'Too soon they thought.'

Dawn nodded, 'Did you go to the funeral?'

Elena stared at her, 'Yes I did. Quite a tiring day.'

'Have you been in contact with anyone?' asked Dawn.

'Well, at work...' began Elena.

'Not at work. On the phone or neighbourwise.' said Dawn.

Elena's lip trembled, 'No.'

'Why? Don't you want to talk to anyone?' asked Dawn.

Elena felt like a little mouse that was about to be pounced on by a big cat.

'Why?' questioned Dawn. Elena could tell she was quite demanding. 

'Everyone has their own things in life to be getting on with, and so have I! The time will come when I will talk to people again.'

Dawn frowned, 'Well, you were referred to me by your boss out of concern for your welfare.'

'I get that!' exclaimed Elena, 'But I don't need any help from anyone, I'm not depressed or ill. It needs time, I need time.'

'Time is not on your side Elena, do you really want to make yourself ill by sitting around and being lonely?' questioned Dawn.

Elena laughed, 'Sometimes, we all need to be alone.'

Dawn got up with a angry expression on her face, 'Are you deliberately trying to cheek me?'

Elena gasped, 'Since when was I trying to cheek you? You are misunderstanding the whole situation.'

'I think you may find that you are in the wrong Ms Mead,' said Dawn, 'And I am in the right.'

Kath walked back in to try and stop any more fighting, 'Let's be reasonable Elena and Dawn! Surely there must be something we can do?'

Elena frowned deeply, 'Yes, like getting Mrs Italy out of my property for a start!'

Dawn gasped, 'How dare you?'

Elena felt her temper rise, 'I dare, I bloody well dare!'

Kath placed her hand on Elena's shoulder, 'Elena, please do try and calm down.'

'No I jolly well won't! And you were involved in this as well! To think that I have called you my best friend for many years and you get involved in something like this?' shouted Elena, 'Forget it, both of you, leave my house NOW!'

Both Dawn and Kath shuddered in their boots, Elena picked up the vase that George had brought for her all those many years ago.

'If you dare throw that!' exclaimed Kath and Dawn together at the same time.

'I certainly dare and if I didn't throw it, George would have!' yelled Elena.

Dawn and Kath made a quick exit from the house shaken and dazed to the core, Elena glanced out the front window as they left and once she was sure they had legged it down the road, she slowly placed the vase back down on the table.

'They have no right to come here and try things like that on me,' thought Elena angrily, 'I am perfectly capable of doing things for myself.

'Reanna, why on Earth would you do this to me?' she questioned angrily to the wall, 'I've been loyal to you since day one. I very clearly pointed out that I was fine and didn't need anyone's support at this stage.'

As if conducting a speech to an audience, Elena spoke, 'In life, we make choices about who we spend time with and who we don't. We choose when to be alone, No-one should ever be made to feel down or have regrets about planning steps over life's little hurdles.'

The empty sofa stared right back at her and in despair, she brushed her hand across the top of it, 'Look, I helped Jake that day back in High School because he was frightened. In other words, i'm not frightened. I just haven't been accepted for who I am as a person yet.' 

The wedding ring still displayed on her finger sparkling in the light, a token for remembering lost love but a connection for strength and comfort.

'That shoulder to cry on can wait.'