The movie they had been watching had finished hours ago and Tina and Bette were content to just lay in each others embrace and listen to the sound of each others voice. Bette had finally managed to get Tina to open up about her life back home and her past. I love Zimbabwe, but it just isnt home any more and it hasnt been for a long time. Growing up I didnt seem to have a care in the world. Like most other children I was very active, I was on the swimming, diving, tennis and karate teams but dancing was always my passion. Unfortunately my body didnt agree but thats another story. We had space and we had freedom, we were safe and protected. There was always poverty in Zim, hunger and drought but I always did what I could. You see, I went to a catholic school and was part of the charity committee, we raised funds for street kids and homeless people as well as AIDS suffers and orphans. That was the bit I couldnt handle. I was one of the only girls who would volunteer to help out at the orphanage and it broke my heart. I helped out twice a week for 5 years and each year I lost someone I had helped to feed or simply played with. These childrens lives were so devoid of love, there own families were afraid to touch them and so we were the ones who suffered the loss and the pain. That is when my idyllic vision of my country started to disintegrate, the more disheartened I became, the more I noticed the poverty surrounding me. So I ran, I submerged myself into dancing and buried my head in the fantasies we created on stage. Like all those around me I chose ignorance over enlightenment. Despite all this I still loved my country and my people, I never lost hope that the country would once again prosper and we would be able to walk in the city centre without coming face to face with the anguish and misery of those around us But it wasnt all doom and gloom, amongst all the turmoil there was laughter and joy and a reprieve from our surroundings. Every year I had a show to look forward too, I had an escape from my reality and the reality of me. I have been some pretty funny things and worn some awful costumes but I got to dance. No matter how bad things were or how bad things would get, I always had that. We had days where there would be no school because workers were striking or there were threats of riots and so we got to spend those days by the pool or in the garden and just relaxing. Or there were days where we spent the entire day in a parking lot across from our school because we had received a bomb threat, so we got to eat junk food, get a tan and gossip instead of learning anything productive. I spent my days at school and at dancing, later I would help with teaching and I guess you could say I found my calling. My holidays were either spent rehearsing for a show or going on safaris and seeing the most beautiful game in the most serene of settings. I witnessed the most vibrant of sunsets and beautiful sunrises. They were full of deep russet colours, a myriad of oranges, reds and pinks. I got to fall asleep under the stars while on a houseboat in Kariba, listening to the sounds of hippos or lions and the wildlife on dry land while surrounded by those I cared about. I was able to see both the beauty and the turmoil of my country through the eyes of an innocent who was forced to grow up to quickly. Bette saw the myriad of emotions playing across Tinas face and didnt know if she wanted to hear any more but she felt it was something Tina needed to do and so she sat listening with silent tears falling down her cheeks. She had only one question. Why did you leave? I left because I wanted a future. We were being persecuted, blamed for everything that was going wrong. Farmers were being murdered or rendered homeless so that the politicians and army generals could take them over and the economy was almost non-existent. What was once know as the bread basket of Africa was now slowly starving to death. I wanted to further my education and in order to do so I had no choice but to do that elsewhere. The government had decided to change all the examinations and we were only allowed to take local exams, even then, they did not offer what I needed in order to follow my dream. If I wanted an education that was worth anything, I would have to seek it away from the comforts of home and family. So I moved to the UK to finish high school and then was accepted into the RAD to do my teachers. By then, everyone I knew that was my age had left. I would come home for the holidays and would know one person, if that. We were scattered across the world looking to create a future for ourselves, always hoping that one day we could all come back home and bring up our own families. I was in my first year when things really started to fall apart. I was diagnosed with a degenerative disk in conjunction with a slipped disk which was pressing on my nerve, it nearly resulted in me leaving the course. My family were still in Zim and were suffering more than they let on. Although we lived well, it came at a price. My father became severely ill due to being held in prison, he was declared a dangerous inmate and confined with all the hardened criminals. The worst thing is, they held him under a law which does not exist and for something he didnt do. He was kept in handcuffs and leg irons whenever he was out of his cell, most of the time he was shackled to someone else as there werent enough for every inmate. I was called back home and questioned by the police, they didnt like the fact that I was studying overseas. They were curious about how I could afford it. they suggested that I had to be a prostitute or something, which I found quite hilarious. Anyway, I was placed in a holding cell for four days while they questioned me about my father. All charges were eventually dropped as they had no case but the damage had already been done. I guess you could say that after that, I felt as though I didnt really have a home. My family couldnt stay anymore, they had lost hope and so they started to leave and like my friends they went in search of a future for their children. You know the funny thing, despite all this I still love my country. Its one of the most beautiful places in the world and if things were different I would never had left. If things changed I would go back before you could say braai at mine. oh, thats a BBQ. even if it were only on holiday. There was a moment of silence, but Bette sensed that there was more Tina wanted to say so she just held her closer and waited. Bette, would you come with me if I did go back? I want you to see the beauty of it and see why I still love it. It made me who I am, gave me life, love and happiness despite everything. T, Id do anything and go anywhere as long as you were with me That was all Tina needed, she turned around. with difficulty and many sound effects. And kissed Bette with all the longing and passion she felt for her and for a place to call home. Bette sensed her need for comfort and drew her closer, if it were possible, their bodies pressed together, fitting as though they were made for each other. Bette, make love to me please. I. I need to? You have my heart and my soul and all that is left is my body Tina felt like she was home as long as she was in Bettes arms and she wanted to loose herself in Bette, to ease the pain of so many severed connections. She wanted to show Bette how much she loved her and trusted her but she was also scared. Will you show me. teach me. how to please you I mean? Bette wanted this more than she could have thought possible, this beautiful woman was giving Bette her trust and her heart. They both had silent tears running down their cheeks and each kissed away the sorrow and the pain and all that was left was love. T, baby. I love you! I love you too, body and soul Im yours. youre my home now and Ive never felt so safe. Thank you!!