"Why? Why Bette why?"

"BECAUSE I LOVE YOU," she screamed, and all my fight, all my anger and sadness evaporated. She loves me. Me.

"You love me?"

"Yes, Tee, I really and truly love you. I fall deeper in love with you with each passing day."

"Really?"

She nodded and smiled. My heart sang. I couldn’t believe that this woman, a known player could be tamed. I was this silly eighteen year old with a small dream and in three words, she changed my entire life. I smiled at her and lunged at her face. I smothered her with kisses and she chuckled.

"I love you too."

She smiled and hugged me tight. That’s exactly what I needed to hear to calm my fears. We went to her bed room and she stripped down to her shirt and panties and she removed my clothes to where I was also just in my shirt and panties. She crawled into the bed beside me and spooned me. I fell asleep fully contented but a little scared of what tomorrow might bring. I prayed all night until I fell asleep that Tim would be ok, dear God, pull him through this.

I work to sunlight blanketing my face. It was a beautiful Friday morning and though I didn’t have class today, I was anxiety filled. I was still wrapped in Bette’s arms who was sleeping. I smiled and kissed her. She stirred a bit and I kissed her again. Soon her beautiful brown eyes fluttered open and found mine. She smiled and she kissed me.

"How are you love?"

"Better."

"Good, get up and shower and I’ll make breakfast."

Though we didn’t live together or yet to have sex, I still had clothes and toiletries at her place. I found my clothes and hopped in the shower. I washed away the saddness and tried to adopt a more positive outlook. If my brother did make it, I’d help him fight to get his life back. If he didn’t, I’d make damn sure that his legacy would live on.

We had breakfast and Bette showered and changed. She drove me back to my parent’s house so I could apologize to them. I checked my phone and I had a dozen missed calls and texts from my parents. I felt bad that I hadn’t responded but I was distraught. We got to my parent’s home to find them gone. I went in and saw they had left two hundred dollars for groceries and things.