She tiptoed back into the kitchen and turned on the small CD player
that was there, she squinted at the music. Staring at the CD player for
an instant, and popping the CD top open, looking down at the CD and
laughing softly to herself.

Evanescence.

Bette knew of the band but had never listened to them, they seemed too
dark, too Gothic, much too sinister. She shrugged, intent on giving new
things a chance; that was what Candace had been all about to begin
with, hadn’t she?

She listened to the hauntingly rich voice of the singer and Bette began
to put together a breakfast. This wasn’t her forte; she was usually the
one that got served breakfast in bed, not the other way around. This
was about change, about changing who she was, about who she thought she
wanted everyone else to be.

All her life, she’d been Daddy’s Little Girl . The one
that was perfect in every way she could be, better grades, better jobs,
better lovers, better house, better car. She felt the swell of tears,
but didn’t bother to wipe them away. Instead she cracked an egg and
began to make the batter for the French toast. She quickly concentrated
on making the food, forgetting the tears falling from her dark ebony
eyes.

The song in the background was a live version of My Immortal
and the audience sang with the singer, a chorus of heartfelt words, and
Bette cried. She cried for the loss of a 7 year marriage for the
newfound freedom that seemed to light up her soul. She let the tears
fall onto the toast as she cracked an egg and poached it. Shoulders
shaking as she went about her work, not realizing just what was
happening to her.

Twenty minutes of crying, cooking and making the most delicious looking
breakfast she’d ever assembled in her life she felt her body quiver.
She licked her lips, tasting the salty remnants of tears there as she
poured a glass of orange juice.

She found a serving tray under the sink, washed it off quickly and
wiped the last of the tears away. Feeling better, refreshed and oddly
calm.

She made her way to the bedroom, to find Candace laying on her stomach,
her hair a cascade over her back, face upraised to the soft light
finally drifting into the bedroom. Bette set the tray on the small
chair across the room and gently woke Candace.