Tina gasped, “What?!”

Christine laughed and motioned towards Tina’s hand. Tina looked down at her hands. Her commitment ring. Oh, *****.

            “Christine, I” Tina started

            “Tina, don’t say anything. It’s okay. I understand that relationships have problems and things happen. Mostly, this was my fault, because I let this happen, I encouraged it.”

            “Christine, I’m so sorry. I really like you so much. My relationship right now is so bad, so unbelievably bad. She hurt me so much.” Tina choked and started to sob. She sank down to the concrete, her legs no longer able to support her. Christine sank down and wrapped her arms around Tina, leaning Tina’s head onto her chest,

“Shh” She whispered, “Its okay, Tina, its okay.”

            “No! No, it’s not okay. She hurt me so much. Oh, I wish she would’ve just killed me instead! I don’t want to hurt this much, I don’t want to hurt!”

            Christine held Tina tighter and rocked her back and forth, “I’m so sorry.” she said, stroking Tina’s hair, “Shh, shh.”

            After a long time, Tina’s sobs calmed and she sat up, pulled her knees to her chest, and rested her head on her knees, “Christine, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought you into this.”

            “If you don’t mind, can you tell me exactly what it is you brought me into?” Christine said, rather curious as she hadn’t understood the full extent of the situation.

            Tina nodded, and told her. She told her about meeting Bette when she was still with Eric, about leaving the earring, about their kiss, and about all their happy years together. Then she told her about wanting a baby, the parenting group, the miscarriage, Bette’s troubles at work, about Candace, and about that dreadful night at CAC. Tina made observations as she spoke, and Christine asked questions and made comments.

            “Jesus.” Christine started, “II don’t know what to say. She really broke your heart, didn’t she?”

            “It changed my whole world when I fell in love with her. I gave her everything I had. I gave her my heart, my lifemy everything. I never, not even once, considered cheating on her before. There was ample opportunity, but I loved her so much, I knew I could never hurt her. Then I saw her that night at CAC, and my heart shattered. Now all I want to do is hurt her. I want her to ache inside as much as I do!”