. encounters at parties... carry an implicit understanding that emotional entanglements are to be avoided." Emily made a face. "Why am I explaining t...is to a guy? " "Oh, I, uh," Jason started, "I haven't ever been to the sorts of party where, uh, casual blowing happens. In... upstairs rooms. That I know of. In fact, I've never..." Rebecca scooted her chair closer to Jason and squeezed his thigh. He stopped talking. He grabbed her hand. She drew his hand over to her thigh and caressed it. There were about a dozen people waiting in the ER, but there were no nurses at the station. The doors leading further into the hospital were locked. There was a swipe pad on the wall next to them, but I knew my card wouldn’t work. Making my card look like a security badge was one thing, but turning it into a key was something else altogether.“Can I help you?” asked a female voice.I turned to find a heavy-set, dark skinned woman who looked both formidable and unhappy. I approached her and said,. But, that wasn’t an attitude I was going to display for my best friend and sister-in-law. I wasn’t the only one feeling anxious and scared, and I felt I had no right to retreat into myself and cut off the rest of the world. So, I pulled out my phone, did a Google search for the number, and called in a reservation. After I slipped the phone back in my purse, I felt Jennifer’s hand squeeze my leg. ‘Thanks for not tuning out on me,’ she said quietly. Her statement was so appropriate that I. Are there any questions before we begin?”Jen states, “I doubt you want me here for this. What do you want me to do?”I answer, “Go to the break room and socialize with whomever is on break. I will be there in a few minutes.”She leaves, and Neil starts the test. I’m not out to get a perfect score. It isn’t something I care about. I quickly get it over with, and in 5 minutes I’m in the break room asking Jen, “Do you want to stay here and continue visiting with Laurie or do you want to come with me.