Christina put her head back on the pillow, exhausted by her efforts and closed her eyes. Bette stayed by her side until her panted breathing slowed and she was fast asleep. Bette released the pale hand she was holding and sat near the window with Christina’s diary. She knew it was dangerous to read but as soon as she finished the first entry, she got more curious and couldn’t stop.

Bette didn’t know how much time had passed as she absorbed herself in the diary. She had never imagined the depths of Christina’s feelings. Her words were leaving tracings of melancholy and longing on Bette’s soul. It was also breaking her heart because there was so much confusion and doubt in her mind.

“What do you say, Elizabeth?”

Bette closed her eyes for a moment, kaleidoscope of images passing through her mind as a whirlwind. Christina teaching her to paint, first time she knew she was falling for another woman, their first kiss at the grove…and then Tina’s smiling face and the first time they made love.

Bette’s eyes flew open and she watched Christina’s pale but still beautiful face, full of hope and emotions. At that moment Bette knew what she wanted to do, what she needed to do but before she could say anything, another wave of contractions hit Christina pretty hard and she screamed in pain. The room was suddenly filled with people and the midwife gently pushed Bette to the side, “It’s time.”

Bette watched from the corner of the room as the doctor and midwife prepared Christina for the delivery until she heard a tiny cry of a newborn baby and knew that everyone was fine and healthy. She left the room so she could breathe and find a solitary place to calm her wildly beating heart.

She went downstairs into the study and looked around. There was a table covered with several drawings and a full stationary set. Bette glanced through the small pictures, admiring Christina’s talent and colors. She sat down and took a piece of paper from the stack. Her last letter to Tina. Bette knew what she needed to write and why and the words were forming easily in her mind.

“My dearest Tina,