Alice didn’t commented or asked any questions. In her heart she already knew what Bette was going to do because she understood how much of Elizabeth was still a part of her friend.

Orange County, Porter Mansion – Wednesday right before midnight

Bette parked the car on the driveway and they went directly to the grove behind the mansion. Alice shivered as the night’s chill ran through her body.

“Are you sure about this, Bette?” Alice’s voice was filled with worry and concern. “We don’t know if portal will stay open for you to come back.”

“I have to do this, Al,” Bette sighed as she tried to look more confident than she felt. “I have a feeling that what meant to be will happen. I do believe in destiny, Alice. I do believe that Tina is my soulmate but I need to have this closure so I can truly move on.”

They both gazed into the darkness as if looking for something special or prophetic that lurked there between the oak trees. There was nothing but darkness and silence. Bette sighed again and reached into her coat pocket.

“Will you please take my car back to our house and stay with Tina tonight?” She handed Alice a sealed envelope. “And give Tina this letter?”

Alice looked at her questionably and Bette shrugged, “I couldn’t leave it in the house. I didn’t want Tina to find it right away because she would come here trying to stop me and I need her to understand that I have to do this if we hope to have happy future together.”

Alice took the envelope and nodded, not even trying to hide her tears. “Maybe I should come with you. If we stuck in the past we’d stuck together.”

Bette smiled with sadness in her eyes. “Thanks Alice, you are a great friend but I have to do this alone.”

Alice nodded again and enveloped Bette in a tight hug, “Safe travels, Bette. We’ll be here when you get back.”

Long after Alice left, Bette waited silently by the oaks as her watch was slowly creeping to midnight. As soon as the watch seconds hand began counting the last ten seconds Bette whispered, “I’m sorry, baby, but I have to do this”, and stepped into the frightening darkness toward the blinding but brief spark of light.

TBC