Deliverance – by Querida

Bette knelt beside the dying child on the hot desert sand.  She took her into her arms to comfort her, but it was obvious the child was beyond anybody’s help.  Tears ran down Bette’s cheeks as she lay her small burden back on the sand.

She became aware that there were strange people swarming all around her.  Their angry muttering was ominous, terrifying.  Gradually she was able to make out the words.

“The child is dead.  You killed her!”

“NO!  No, I didn’t!  I was trying to help her!  I never hurt her, she…”

“She killed her.”  The gutteral voices spoke among themselves.  They pressed in upon her.  “She must be punished!  She must die too!  A life for a life!”

“No!  Please listen to me!  I am innocent!” Bette pleaded in vain.  She screamed as a large rock grazed her head and blood ran down her face into her eyes.  They were all armed with rocks or pieces of sharp shale.  She could smell their foul breath, their unwashed bodies. Another rock grazed her shoulder, sending sharp pain down her arm.  She crouched on the sand and covered her head, and felt the rocks pummelling her back.

 “This is it,” she told herself.  “I’m going to die here.  Oh, Tina, my love…”

All at once a strange silence fell over the angry mob.  They drew back as a tall female figure glowing with golden light strode through their midst.

Bette looked up. “Tina!” She couldn’t believe her eyes.

“Come on, babe, let’s get you out of this,” came Tina’s voice.  She knelt and took Bette’s shaking hands in hers, raising her to her feet.  Bette leaned into her lover, who wrapped one arm around her and led her away.

They were alone.  The desert with its crowd of bloodthirsty avengers had vanished.  They were in a large room with many doors.

“This way,” Tina said, half carrying Bette through one of the doors.  “I’ve got you, babe.”

Then they were back in their bed and Tina was holding her tight as Bette sobbed into her shoulder.

“It’s all right, baby, you just had a bad dream..a nightmare.”

Tina stroked Bette’s hair and rubbed her back and whispered the ancient words of comfort as the sobs gradually diminished.

“Okay now babe?  Tell me about it…”  This was the way they always helped each other over the bad places.

“Oh,T, it was awful, and so real.  They would have stoned me to death if you hadn’t come.  You saved my life!  That’s the first time you have ever come into one of my dreams to rescue me!”

“Did you think I would let anyone hurt you, babe?”  Tina murmured, kissing Bette’s forehead.  “You called me, so I came.” She wiped Bette’s tears away with her thumbs.

“I love you,”  Bette said.

“I love you back.  It’s too early to get up, it’s only four a.m.  Let’s just cuddle up and go back to sleep for a few hours, okay?”

“I’m almost afraid to go back to sleep,” Bette confessed.

“I’ll hold you while you sleep,” Tina promised.  “Nothing bad can happen to you in my arms…”

“You’re right,” Bette smiled.  “Only good things happen there!  By the way, how come you were all gold and glowing in my dream, like a goddess?”

“How should I know?” Tina laughed.  “You’re the one who dreamed it!”

“You know, T,” Bette murmured.  “I guess that’s how I think of you…all gold and glowing…”

“Go to sleep, babe…you’re hallucinating!”  But Tina was smiling, and her words were laced with love.

She held Bette just a little bit tighter.