I didnt know if it was ok to disturb you”

Its OK. I was just about to come out, Tina interrupted quietly. She laughed to herself. For the past hour, Ive been about to come out. I didnt know what to say.

Oh.

They stayed in the none too comfortable silence for a few minutes.

Im sorry Bette.

What for? Bette asked, not expecting to hear that response.

Running away. That was one of the things I said we werent to do. Ten minutes in, I bail. Im sorry, Tina repeated, looking up at Bette. Her eyes were damp.

T, its OK… Bette started to move across to the bed, acting on her immediate impulse to comfort Tina.

Its not, Bette, Tina said, shaking her head. Its not OK to run away when it gets hard. How are we ever going to fix this if I keep running away? And I really wanna fix this, Bette, I do.

Bette sat down beside her and cautiously stroked Tinas face. Well that makes two of us. Gently she turned Tinas head to face her. And with two of us Theres no way we cant do it.

But there is, havent you thought about that? This might not work. Again. And well be right back to where we were; You drowning in your pain and me lost and heartbroken. Again, Tina said, the words spilling out of her mouth as quickly as the tears fell from her eyes.

Well you know what, T, Bette murmured, wiping away Tinas tears delicately. To be honest I dont want to think about that possibility. Cause for me, thats not a possibility. You just walked back into my life, Im not able to contemplate you leaving it again so soon. Or ever. I love you. And I know you love me. Today was too soon. Everything else well work through in time. And itll take a while to get to that point. But believe me, T, Bette leaned forward and kissed Tinas forehead. I cant wait to get to that point.

Tina just nodded, looking at Bette through tear glazed eyes. She shimmied down on the bed and lay down in Bettes lap. As Bette ran her nails through Tinas hair, she just lay there enjoying the silent comfort. She knew she was not in any way prepared to leave this again. To do that, she had to stay and fight for them.

And that was exactly what she was prepared to do.