Bette just lay on the couch, unsure whether to chase after Tina. She felt like her whole world was collapsing, how had Tina got everything so wrong? How could this have happened?

Your arms around me tight
Everything, it felt so right
Unbreakable, like nothin’ could go wrong
Now I can’t breathe
No, I can’t sleep
I’m barely hanging on

She found herself staring at the ceiling, watching the paintwork. Watching the shapes made by her and Tina’s inadequete ceiling painting skills. Memories flashed through her mind of that day, when they both got covered in paint, more paint on themselves than on the actual ceiling.

Here I am, once again
I’m torn into pieces
Can’t deny it, can’t pretend
Just thought you were the one

She remembered that Tina had drawn hearts on the back of her shirt, without her realising. She remembered painting Tina’s hair a gentle shade of avacado. Her mind kept remembering the way Tina laughed, the way she screamed when Bette began to tickle her with a paintbrush.

Broken up, deep inside
But you won’t get to see the tears I cry

The way her sincere blue eyes danced when she laughed, and the way they filled with tears when Bette finally admitted the truth to her. Bette rolled over, unable to stop the flood of tears. Tina hadn’t even listened to all of it, to the full truth. She said she couldn’t take it, that she needed some time out, that she’d be back.
The thing was, Tina couldn’t meet her eyes when she said that.

So together, but so broken up inside
‘Cause I can’t breathe
No, I can’t sleep
I’m barely hangin’ on

Bette’s mobile began to ring, spurring Bette out of her shock and misery. As she answered, anyone watching could see Bette fall apart. Like the experiment where you pump the air out of a aluminium can, and the can implodes, Bette’;s face just seemed to disintergrate.

I’m torn into pieces
Can’t deny it, can’t pretend
Just thought you were the one

It was like her spirit had been pumped out of her. As she hung up, the tears began to flow, spilling over the emotional barrier she’d set up inside herself.
“I should’ve been there….” She muttered quietly to herself.