“Do you really think I’ll come out of this stronger?” Dana asked Lara.

“as1219 believes in you Dana she’s been following your career for years. She’s seen what you can do on the court and she knows that you can apply that same kind of determination to fight this opponent too. With fans like as1219 cheering for you how can you lose?”

“I did kick some ass on the court didn’t I?” Dana grins at the memory of being at the top of her game.

“You certainly did baby. Do you remember how you felt when you won the Mercedes Benz tournament? I was so proud of you and when you kissed me in front of all those people and on live television … wow that was so amazing. I could feel your energy flowing into me.”

“I bet a lot of people were shocked that I did that. Imagine closeted Dana Fairbanks finally coming out and having the nerve to kiss her girlfriend on live TV in front of millions of people. I still can’t believe I did that. I was so ecstatic.”

“You should have been… you played your ass off.”

“Yeah I did … and in that moment nothing else mattered. I just wanted to share the limelight with you. I was thinking ‘I’m a huge fucking tennis star’ and I made my girl proud.”

“Yes you did. I was so proud of you, not only for winning the tournament but for standing up for who you are. Remember that night that we fought and you came over to make up?”

”Yeah.”

Dana: You just — you make me so happy, and that’s not a very familiar feeling, you know? Can I please try again? I really want to try again. Can I?

Lara: One thing.

Dana: Anything.

Lara: You have to start taking at least some steps towards being out.

Dana: I will.

Lara: Because you’re going to be miserable being in the closet.

Dana: I know.

Lara: And you are really, really gay.

Dana: I know that.

Lara: It’s one of the things I like so much about you. When you hide that, you’re hiding the best part.

“You have amazing strength and resilience baby. You’re an inspiration to a lot of people whether you realize it or not.”