“Oh, did you like it?” Tina sat up.

“Listen, T, you are absolutely amazing, you know?  That was really great!”

Tina smiled and snuggled into Bette’s arms.  “Glad you liked it.  Can we go to bed now?  Or you’ll end up having to undress me  again!”

“Well,” Bette grinned, kissing the top of Tina’s head, “I may just do that anyway!”

They undressed each other and got into bed.  There was a nostalgic flavour to their love making, beauty and sadness combined.  When would Tina leave her to spread her wings and fly? Bette wondered.  Tina kissed her gently, as though she could read Bette’s mind.  “I love you, Bette.  I’ll always love you, don’t worry…”  Bette held her very tightly, and tears came to her eyes as she burrowed into Tina’s neck.

Bette didn’t have long to wait.  Only a week later Tina phoned her excitedly..”Bette, I got an offer from one of the studios for a junior position!  Isn’t that great!  They liked the documentary, and I think that’s why I got the job.  They want me to start immediately, well, in two weeks actually!”  Even as Bette congratulated her and made plans to take her out to dinner to celebrate, her heart grew heavy within her.  It had begun.

Tina was so happy.  She was ‘on her way’ at last.  The arduous years of her studies, the constant money worries, the uncertainty of the career she had chosen, now seemed to be paying off.  In addition, she had met the love of her life, Bette Porter.  She bubbled with enthusiasm as Bette took her to a fine restaurant and did everything she could to express her pride in Tina.

Bette made love to Tina that night with slow tenderness.  She didn’t know why she was feeling so pessimistic about the whole thing, and was determined not to let her mood spoil Tina’s happiness.  Tina lay across Bette’s breasts sleeping soundly, but Bette stared into the darkness, holding her lover close.

Tina had a few odds and ends to deal with at school, and Bette dropped her off on her way to the Gallery.  Tina wanted to cook a special dinner for Bette that night, and they had planned to discuss living arrangements.  Tina felt it would be a good thing if she lived on her own for a while, and although Bette was anxious for her to move in with her immediately, Tina was insistent on becoming financially independent first.  She tried to explain.

“I don’t know why exactly, but it seems really important that I come to you on an equal basis.  I want ‘us’ to last forever, Bette.  It’s about autonomy, I think.  Do you understand, baby?”

“I’m not sure I do,” Bette answered, “but I’ll support you in anything you wish to do, T.  I want ‘us’ to last forever too – I can’t imagine life without you.”

“You won’t ever have to,” Tina told her, and walked into her warm embrace.

This woman is changing my life, Bette realized.  It’s true, I want to possess her, keep her close, contain her, but this is Tina, and she cannot be possessed.  How about if I just love you, she thought. Yes, Tina would be okay with that…