Bette finished her drink and put the glass silently on the side. She turned off the outside lights, her phone and after taking one last look at the lounge as the moonlight rendered it dream like, she walked to Angelica’s bedroom.

Her daughter seemed to always be flying in her dreams, at least if physical positioning can be any indication of such, this was true. Bette covered her feet and shoulders with the blanket that sought to be a cape only this evening. Bending to softly kiss her head and borrow some of her simple wisdom, she padded out.

Slowly getting into bed, trying to minimise the disturbance for Tina, Bette lay back with one hand under her head. She was tired, but also stirred by conflicting emotions.

She wanted very much to curl into Tina, inhale and kiss her, but there was still a chill on her skin and a sense of consciousness that as yet was unfair to press to her in her beautiful peaceful state of sleep. It was not as easy to interpret where her dreams tended….. she held her pillow like a lover though, tenderly with fingers splayed and curls caressing, lips relaxed and slightly open……Bette allowed two of her fingers to follow the curve of the hollow of her back to harbour her curiosity.  

She remembered a couple of weeks ago, sipping her coffee in a Cafe, reading some academic notes in a rear workday break. Her ears had tuned in and out of a conversation between two guys discussing current events and trading recent social stories, she assumed they were gay, not for any particular reason, but it was the impression she had. But, particularly being interested as one waxed about headlocks and new kicks learnt, his friend then gently inquired if his new Martial Arts interest had been born from “the attack”. He took some time to think on his friends question, spoke softly around it for a little time, but then agreed that it probably was. He discussed his new sense of awareness, of not wanting to feel so vulnerable, and that in seeking such physical instruction had helped deconstruct this feeling. He was not gung-ho, or vigilante, just trying to quieten and embolden again, his place in society.