Darker London-Uncover what is underneath...

Aly hadn't felt so utterly content in a very long time. The reasons for which should be readily apparent. She was giddy now, waiting for her afternoon visit with her husband she had reunited with just yesterday. In order to make the time go faster, she decided to go spend some time in the common room, and that was where she found Bria.

( Oh no she di'int! )

Aly awoke in her house in the big bed she usually shared with Peter, and the first thing she noticed was the total and complete silence of the place. It was eerie. Her home was not a quiet place, as it was usually filled with children and dogs and cats and friends, and now there was no one. She had gotten what she wanted. To be left alone. And now she had to wonder if it was all it was cracked up to be.

( The gospel according to Bria )

Aly was lying across Bria's bed with her arms thrown up over her eyes to block out the horrible sun. "Stupid...daylight.." Aly moaned. And her throbbing head protested her words as much as it protested the light.

( Oh, Aly )

Today, Aly had seen her first husband...her first love...darling William, give flowers to another woman. Her son's teacher. She had watched him smile at her and she knew that smile because it had once been hers. She hadn't expected the pain to pierce her like a knife, the way it did. She had moved on, hadn't she? She had moved on to the wonderful Peter Kemp who did everything right, even when she wanted him to fuck up so she could scream at him. And then, Aly had screamed at him anyway.

The screaming had not started today. She had been short with him for a week, and she hated the way his dear face crumpled when she yelled almost as much as it gave her a sick feeling of satisfaction. Aly loved Peter. That was not in doubt. But she had lost her best friend, and Christina's replacement came in the form of a stick-thin, younger woman named Bria, who made Aly feel old. Aly, who always felt young surrounded by her older friends and family, felt old and ugly next to the radiant Bria. Even without noticing, Aly had started to portion her food again, eating less and less of it. And with everything going on, no one noticed. But it was little wonder the effects left her irritable and mean.

Freedom was found at a dance club, however, and Bria always knew the best ones. And here, Aly could see her efforts were worthwhile. Her clothes clung attractively and while she wasn't as thin as Bria...not yet, she still got attention that made her feel better. Here, tonight, she was going to let the pain of the day drift away. Aly swayed her hips and lost herself to the beat and the lights and the sweat of the club, right there beside her new best friend.