Bette’s eyes fluttered open and she looked around the room and tried to focus in the dark. She looked toward the window and determined it was night outside. When she shifted her head to look back toward the left, she saw the very familiar silhouette of Tina. Tina was sleeping peacefully and breathing with a steady pace. Bette looked carefully at her features in the dark – her face and body. Tina was smashed right up against the left side of bed, because the hospital bed was very small for two people. Suddenly Bette was aware of every place that Tina’s body touched her own. She thought to herself that Tina was a perfect fit for her; almost like a puzzle piece. And then she thought, how could I have let this slip away from me? How could I take this for granted? And then she remembered how hard the first nights were without Tina in her life again. How much she missed this same feeling that she was feeling now. Simple touching in the night. Then she remembered how for a while after Tina left, her pillow still smelled like her and Bette would embrace it at night. She leaned in a little closer to Tina and smelled her hair and skin. She closed her eyes and thought to herself, yes, this is what I missed so much.

Tina awoke a little startled and said “Bette, babe is everything ok”?

Bette said “You startled me… yeah, everything is ok.”

Tina said “What are you doing babe”?

Bette, slightly embarrassed said “Ummm… I was uh… I was smelling you”.

Tina said “Smelling me?”

Bette said “Yeah, you smell so familiar and good. Like home. Like what your pillows used to smell like at home. I am sorry….”

Tina said “Don’t be sorry Bette. I hope I at least have a good home-like smell!”

Bette said ‘Yeah, you do…’

Tina said “Baby, it is like 2am, why are you up? Are you in pain?”

Bette said “No, I am ok. I just woke up a little disoriented, probably from the medication earlier and was trying to be still and quiet so that you could sleep. I am sorry that I woke you up”.

Tina said “Don’t worry about it. How are you feeling? Are you feeling better? Do you want to talk about earlier Bette or let it go. I leave it completely up to you”.