‘Last night. After we came back from the opening, Tina was in here waiting for me. And she knew. I don’t know how, but she did. And there’s no way I could have denied it. I didn’t want to. I needed her to know. Soso that she could understand. So that she could forgive me.’ Bette could feel the well of emotion building behind her eyes but she wouldn’t break eye contact with Kit.

‘I tried to hold her and she pushed me away. And when I tried to tell her I was sorry she’ Bette’s eyes were forced closed as she remembered the feeling of Tina’s hand across her face. She paused only for a moment before looking back at Kit, Her voice was starting to break as she spoke the words whist still trying to fight the tears. ‘I told her I loved her. But it didn’t matter anymore. She hated me. I saw everything that I had done to her. All the hurt I had caused her. Everything I had thrown away.’

The tears were flowing freely now from both Bette and Kit but neither broke eye contact, neither let go of the other’s hand. ‘And I didn’t want to let it go. So I held her. I forced her onto the bed and I told her I loved her. And when she wouldn’t let herself listen to the words I held her tighter and I told her again, and again, and again. And I ripped the dress from off of her and kissed her and told her I loved her as she criedas she said no. I had to keep telling her I was sorry. I had to make her understand that I loved her. She had to know. I needed to feel her. I needed to feel in control of my life again. I needed her’

As Bette’s words trailed off Kit grabbed Bette and held her close as each of them wept. One arm cradling Bette and the other gently stroking her hair as she tried to soothe her. As Kit gently rocked Bette she wondered how things had gone so wrong. ‘Shh. It’s gonna be okay. She knows you love her.’ Kit offering words she hoped would comfort Bette. Knowing what the two of them had done to each other Kit silently asked herself how things would ever be right between Bette and Tina again.