Poison Oak: Chapter 3

Tina sat cross-legged on Alices slightly uncomfortable sofa staring defiantly at the envelope on the coffee table in front of her. She had recognised the handwriting immediately and due to the identity of the sender Tina had not yet opened it. She had not yet mustered the courage to open it, afraid that if she did she would be opening up her own version of Pandoras Box, one that would unleash all the pain and insecurity that had been festering inside of her yet, unlike the myth, one that would not result in the flutter of hope at the end.

Shed been battling with these feelings ever since that night, feelings of hurt, jealousy and inadequacy that had been raging within her. Shed thought shed done the hard part when she sweet, passive Tina Kennard had confronted the dominant, volatile Bette Porter. Then, she thought, she had been able to walk away after experiencing the most raw, animalistic ***** shed ever had, and then the hangover of despair that had engulfed them both afterwards. She had done the hard bits; she had run that gauntlet and surprisingly had emerged from the other side, desperately wounded but still alive. After that it should have been easy, she should have been able to bandage up her wounds, pack up her memories and get on with her life. It wasnt supposed to be like this, she thought, she wasnt supposed to be this shadow of a woman trying to pluck up the courage to read a letter.

No, it wasnt. Tina inhaled deeply, attempting to cleanse herself of her anxiety; she set her shoulders and tightened her jaw then leaned forward to pick up the one physical remnant she had of the past seven years. Her delicate hand closed in on the crisp, white paper and she exhaled that breath she been holding. She allowed the envelope to settle in her hands for a moment before using her capable thumbnail to prise it open. She pulled out the letter and unfolded it, as she stared at the page in front of her she felt hot tears fighting to be released. She closed her eyes and swallowed, she was a strong Tina, she reminded herself, and this Tina could read a simple letter. She forced her eyes open and let them drift over the words in front of her: