Emily rubbed her neck. “Well… I guess he was right, altough his choice of words wasn’t very… diplomatic. You could move in with me.”

Bette sighed. “How would I pay your parents for the food and the bed?”

“Come on, you’re my girlfriend. It’d be temporarily, they’ll understand.”

“I really can’t do it, Em.”

“So, what’s your plan then?”

“I don’t know!” Bette buried her hands in her face, still weeping. “I really don’t know.”

“Just… grab your stuff and come home with me. We’ll talk there – I don’t think it’s a good idea to stay in here much longer.”

When they went downstairs half an hour later, Melvin was sitting in the couch, reading a paper. This was a rare sight – Bette couldn’t recall any memory of Melvin just relaxing. Emily had already reached the door, but she hesitated. “Daddy…”

Melvin pretended not to hear her plea. He didn’t even look up.

“Daddy, please…” she said again as she walked to him, putting her hand upon his arm. As if electrified, he moved his arm abruptly – he couldn’t even stand her touch anymore. She swallowed and followed Emily to the door. Just as she was about to leave the house, her father did say something to her she didn’t understand. “And I had so hoped you would not turn into your mother. I am deeply disappointed. You are not my daughter.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Again, Melvin completely ignored her, as if he didn’t even know who she was. Emily felt very sorry for her girlfriend – she knew those words had probably just broken her.

“Come, Bette,” she whispered softly. She grabbed her hand to take her along. Bette didn’t seem able to move or speak. Eventually, she just followed Emily out, a blank stare on her face.

###

“So nobody has a clue what ‘SS’ stands for?” Tina asked her class. The students weren’t paying much attention and that had everything to do with the weather outside. The summer was clearly close and most of them were looking forward to the holidays, already making plans with their friends. Tina couldn’t deny she looked forward to some rest as well – but it would also mean that she wouldn’t see Bette. She just couldn’t think beyond not seeing Bette.