“I’m so sorry for hurting you” Bette whispered through her tears never wanting to let Tina go. Feeling the warmth of Tina’s body as she held on so tightly was soothing Bette’s anxious mind. They were moving in the right direction and she was determined to make amends.

Eventually Tina calmed her tears and allowed herself to enjoy the comforting feeling of Bette’s familiar form so close to her own. With her arms wrapped safely around the back of Bette’s neck Tina ran her right index finger over the gold ring on her left hand. ‘It’s false comfort. Her arms were around someone else, holding her, feeling her body like this.’ The comfort of Bette’s embrace vanished and as soon as the thought entered Tina’s mind. She carefully slipped the ring from her left hand and dropped it on the bed behind Bette’s back. She began to shift away twisting out of Bette’s arms.

“I can’t do this” Tina mumbled as she tried to reconcile her head and heart once again “I just keep seeing your arms around her, you holding her. It’s all I can think of Bette!”

“Then don’t”

“Don’t what?”

“Think” Bette stated simply “Don’t think about any of it. Concentrate on what you feel.”

Tina’s heart felt like it was going to explode in her chest.

“I don’t trust my feelings because they just lead me straight back to you”

“Doesn’t that tell you something Tina?” Frustration was beginning to get the better of Bette “Like maybe you still love me and that we need to work this out together?”

“No Bette. All it tells me is that my heart forgives too easily. That’s why I’m constantly being hurt”

“Your trusting nature is part of what makes you so beautiful T, I love that about you”

“Yeah well, my trusting nature departed with your fidelity and I don’t think they’re coming back.”

“So where does all this leave us?”

“I’ve told you Bette, it’s over”

“Then why the ***** were you in my arms not two minutes ago? What the ***** was that Tina?”

“A mistake”

“No. Allowing yourself to be comforted by me is not a mistake”