She walked back upstairs and the door slammed shut again.

She ran her fingers through her hair.  She needed to get away for a minute.  Inside her car, she turned on the radio to something soft and soothing.  She drove toward the beach.

At the beach, she chose a spot in the sand to sit.

The moment she knew love was the moment she met Bette.

Out of all of the people in the world, Bette was the only person she ever really trusted with her entire heart, even when she broke it.  Out of all the people Tina dated, Bette was the only one she ever fell in love with.

And out of all the people Bette could’ve had; all the women that wanted Bette and all the men who stood on the sidelines who could never get a piece of the action; out of all of those people, Bette chose her.

She’d always felt special knowing that Bette wanted her and no one else.

Yet, she jeopardized it the moment she lied, even though she never knew they’d get this far.

“I love her.” Tina said aloud towards the ocean, “I’ve always loved her.  I’ve always been in love with her and only her.  She is the first.  She is the last.  She is forever.”  Tina took a deep breath, “I’ve never loved her more than I do now.”

She stood from her seated position and drove back home.  Inside the house, it was obvious that Bette hadn’t stepped out of their bedroom since she left.  As she approached the door, she could hear Bette crying.  She turned the knob only to find that it had been locked.  She pressed her body firmly against the door.

“Bette.” She called out to know avail, “I never lied to you.  You are my first.  While my sister is the first to touch me, you are the first to show me what it means to be loved.  You are the first to show me how to make love to another woman.  You are the first to show me what true love means and what it means to start a family and make a life with someone.  I never knew what it meant to share my hopes and dreams as well as my fears and failures before I met you.  You’re my best friend, my true love, and my everything.  You are my last, babe.  I don’t want anyone else but you.  I want to grow old with you.  I want to die 5 minutes before you, so I’ll never have to know what it’s like to live without you, even for a moment.  I need you in my life.   And you are my forever.  Even when we die, I’ll love you from beyond the grave.  My last thought will be of you.  Bette, please come to door.  Please.  I love you.  Please.”

The door opened and Bette stood there, her eyes puffy from crying.

Tina began speaking again, “You, too, are the love of my life.  And I will never hurt you or fail again.  You have to believe me.”

“I do.”  Tina moved into Bette’s arms, cradling her head under her chin.

“Are you disgusted by me, with what you know now?”

“Never.  What happened was not your fault.  Amanda is in the wrong and deserves to be punished and one day she will, if she hasn’t already.  What she did to you was abuse, not love or sex.”  Bette ran her hand down the length of her back, “As far as I’m concerned, I can still be your first if you view me that way.”

“I love you.  I love only you.”

“I love you too.”

“Am I invited back into our bedroom?”

Bette just smiled and led Tina inside and closed the door for the last time that night.