After her father left, Tina and her mom stayed in the room, looking at everything but each other____then Tina broke the silence. “mom…?”

Before she could say anything more, her mom spoke. “Your dad is a hard man Tina, he needs time to process what you just told him…. We need time…It’s late and I need to make sure that your dad is okay…you can see yourself out…Her mom all but ran from the room. Then at the door she stopped and faced Tina with tears in her eyes. “Why?, Tina, why this?”

“I. . . I don”t. . .”

But her mom didn’t wait for her to finish . She was already through the door.

“Thanks for nothing mom” Tina said to the empty room.

It was exactly a week since Tina had last spoken to Bette or her parents. Tina hadn’t tried to contact her parents since the night she had attempted to tell them about her sexual preferences. Bette on the other hand, she had called on numerous occasions, but each time had gotten her voice mail. Bette hadn’t bothered to return any of her messages. Tina had gone to the planet every day for lunch in the hope of running into Bette, but without luck. Today was no different.

It was Friday and Tina had just returned from lunch. She had gone to the planet hoping to run into Bette. But only Alice, Shane and Dana were there and none of them had any idea where Bette was, or if they did ,they weren’t saying. Even Kit was mum. Tina tried Bette again and she still wasn’t answering her phone. Tina sat at her desk with her head in her hands, trying to think her next move. She was getting more frustrated by the minute. Kate choose that moment to enter her office.

“Is something wrong Tina? You didn’t answer when I knocked.”

“I don’t know what you mean” Tina said evasively.

“Yes, you do.” Kate said. “you’re distracted. Neither your mind nor your heart has been in your work for the past couple days. What is it?”

My husband cheated on me. I’m a lesbian and my lesbian lover wants nothing to do with me. I came out to my parents and I have no idea how they feel about it. I haven’t heard from them since. I need to find a way to get Bette talking to me again. There. Was that what she was supposed to say? Should she tell Kate what an idiot she had been? Asking Bette for friendship and losing her in the process. God , how she longed to feel Bette’s hand on her. Running through her hair, down her body…God! She covered her face with embarrassment at the remembrance.