It was nice to be back in her own home. Bette flicked on the lights and moved from place to place, room to room, checking to see if everything was alright that nothing was stolen. Walking back into the kitchen she opened the fridge and took out a carton of orange juice and from the freezer some vodka. Working on the counter with her leg pressed against the heater Bette made herself a screwdriver, she could never drink any other alcoholic beverage. The tangy taste of oranges and the shock of vodka spread the warmth in her belly, made her sharper. Walking into the dining room Bette sat down at the table and pulled up the briefcase full of papers. It had been sitting by the chair since Friday afternoon. Putting down the drink Bette opened up the zipper and took out the papers, and examined each one separately. Looking in her planner Bette circled important dates, dates where she had meetings with curators with artists. It was tough trying to keep up while maintaining her own gallery. There were so many vipers out there ready to drink her blood at the first moment of weakness. And she was being weak, in fact Bette took another swig just thinking about how her head had been up her ***** for the past week. While at work Bette had been daydreaming about Tina, while doing anythingdaydreaming about Tina. Her work suffered and Bette took another swig at that thought. If Bettes father saw her she knew he would give her more than an earful. And her friends, Bette had been neglecting them. Remembering she owned a message machine Bette got up and crossed to the living room sitting down feeling a little heavy she pushed the button. It was Alicecalling to see if Bette was still alive, then it was Marinaasking if Bette was coming to a new night she was planning for the Planetradar.and then there was Kit. At the sound of her voice Bette sat up, moving closer she listened closely. Kit was drunk; her voice quivered and slurred asking for money. A wave of disgust went through Bette and she slammed down her finger pressing delete. Kit hadnt called her for three whole years and the last time she did she promised Bette that she would sober up. Instead of that Kit was arrested for public drunkenness. Bette, after bailing her out, went right up to Kit and gripped her shoulders coming close….promising to never speak to Kit again if she didnt sober up. And then she disappeared, Bette went on with her life convinced her sister would never make contact again. And now sitting here, listening to her big sisters voice Bette felt a pain in the back of her throat. Swallowing Bette felt lonely, and with a half-hearted attempt to stand up burst out crying.