Bette sighed heavily and went to the bathroom to freshen up. Tina stayed in the living room and mentally argued with herself that what she did was the right thing. When Bette returned to the room, Tina was still deep in her thoughts, trying to justify her decision. As soon as she saw Bette with the traces of tears on her face, she went straight to her and enveloped the distraught brunette into a tight embrace. They both stood like that for a long time, enjoying the now familiar closeness and comforted by the mere presence of each other.

Tina finally pulled away and looked into Bette’s dark eyes that were filled with anguish. She could see that Bette was straggling with sadness and grief that overwhelmed her. Tina gently touched Bette’s bottom lip with her thumb and then slowly leaned forward, kissing her with tenderness.

Bette immediately succumbed to gentle caress of Tina’s mouth and the innocent kiss was replaced by a series of aggressive and sensual assaults. They were devouring each other as if this was their last time together. Finally, Bette released the tight hold on Tina’s shoulders and they stood in silence, breathless, with their foreheads touching each other.

Tina was the first to speak, “Bette, I know that you are very upset and you probably going out of your mind…”

“Tina, you have no idea,” Bette interrupted her, letting go of their embrace and walking back towards the couch. “I feel like my entire existence is a lie and I’m powerless to change anything.”

“There are some things that you could change,” Tina replied, sitting next to Bette and pulling her arms around her shoulders.

“If the future or the past have already been written why bother changing anything?” Bette asked, fighting her tears and at the same time finding comfort in Tina’s arms.

“Maybe the idea is to take what you have right now and live every moment to the fullest because if we constantly worry about the past or the future, we forget that we are living in the present,” Tina said thoughtfully, hoping that Bette would let go of her fears and doubts and would allow herself to love and be loved.