Bette was taken aback. “Tee, you just told me she’s your sister.” She didn’t understand at all.

“It happened when we were little.” Tina’s back was still to her. If she was going to tell Bette, she was going to tell her everything that happened. “She said everyone was doing it. I didn’t know any better. It kept going on for about a year until she left home and came back with her husband. I never discussed it with anyone not ever. You’re the very first person to know.” Tina turned to Bette to look for her reaction. She could see Bette was trying to understand. She took a seat at the end of the couch, providing a safe distance between the two women.

Tina looked to her hands. “One day, during that year, I told her no more. I just knew it. I knew it wasn’t right.” Now tears were present in Tina’s eyes. “She came in my room and threatened me that if opened my mouth to anyone– to  mommy and daddy she’d tell them what a dirty lesbian I was and that I was the one who did it to her.” Tina let the tears roll down her face.

“Bette, when I left North Carolina for New York, I left my entire family behind for good.  If they couldn’t accept me, I wouldn’t accept them in my life. This is why I’ve never told you about my family.” She lifted her head and saw that Bette was in a dark daze. She couldn’t read her expression. “Bette, please, say something?”

“What do you want me to say?” Bette couldn’t think of anything. She couldn’t believe Tina had kept something so big from her and the fact that Tina had kept this inside to herself this long, it must’ve been real painful.

Fearing Bette was going to leave her now, she sat back down next to Bette and reached for her hands, “I love you so much. I swear, I never meant this to happen. I never thought she’d turn up in my life again. Bette, please don’t leave me. ” Tina shook and threw her arms over Bette’s waist, keeping her close, hoping she wasn’t going to leave her.