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            My poor baby, I thought as I leant against the doorway, trying not so hard anymore to hide my body’s swaying. An emptiness hit me. She doesn’t need me here. Look at all the friends beside her, helping her. But I so much wanted to hold her sweet sleeping body to me and away from all the scary things in the world. The last few days seemed a stupid blur to me. A wasted period of miscommunication in our lives. We needed to move on. But, I knew, we needed to move on together.

Shane’s soft yet firm effort at rousing her seemed fruitless until Tina, with her beautiful eyes still closed, breathed, “Bette” and I died with love. I was needed after all.

            “Well that will do I suppose.” Alice said, winking at Shane and pulling her up. “See, she’s awake, she’s fine. Just needs some lovin’.” Alice grinned at me, urging me over. The others began to pile out past me, back towards the music.

I could almost sense the smile on Kit’s face behind me as I closed the gap between her and me. I could no longer remember what exactly I had said about our relationship to Kit but obviously this was good closure for her. Tina’s features were so peaceful as she lay there, her lips calm and moist, her chest lightly rising and falling to a precious beat I couldn’t hear. I did hear the door close, the music turned dull through the walls. We were alone. Although my body yearned for it, I didn’t sit on the bed, for fear of disturbing the sleep she was in. I simply crouched beside her, placing my nose upon the mattress, watching her eyelids move. I stayed in my spot until Tina’s arm grazed my cheek. It must’ve been in a position to fall, I thought. Then I felt it again. Letting my face fall into her hand, I closed my eyes for what seemed like an eternity. I opened them to see her hand flex and her little fingers wriggle. I flicked my eyes back towards hers to receive a shock as she was staring right back at me. Her blue eyes lit up. She smiled. I felt my eyebrows raise in hope and love as I smiled back. It was ecstasy to hear her speak my name. I gave her the same reception.

            “Tina, baby. Are you okay?” I moved closer to slowly stroke her hair back.

            “I missed you. You were so far away.” She sniffed and let go a tear that I swept up with my thumb. “I’m so sorry.”

            “No. No, my love.” I had attempted to interrupt her apology but apparently my speaking ability was off still and I missed completely. Now I was the one in tears. “I’m the person who should apologise. I should’ve been there for you. Well I promise you now, T, I shall always be there for you.” I buried my face into her armpit, wrapping my arms around the rest of her and breathing in every scent of her. Although I couldn’t hear it myself, I was sure I asked for her forgiveness. She didn’t reply. Just when I started thinking she was still upset with me, I felt her raise my head to hers and place a delicate kiss onto my lips. Her hand massaged lightly through my hair. Tenderly, her other hand caressed my side, her fingers carefully tracing lines onto my skin. Her lips had barely moved. Everything was being done so delicately, as if any kind of force would hurt me. I returned the feeling, stroking the top of her ear as our mouths met again, our breath buffering their union. It was the longest brief kiss of my life. And it was heaven. We were moving on, I realised, as I moved from the floor onto the bed. As Tina’s shirt was lovingly being removed, I smiled. So I could gaze at her milky white skin, I planted my head upon the pillow and promptly passed out.

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