Andrea sat down in a chair Tina indicated. “I don’t know where to begin…Bette and I…uh…I should never have accepted her proposal…we never should have gotten married.”

“Listen…it’s really none of my business…”

“…she still loves you,” Andrea interrupted. “She still loves you.” Andrea’s eyes started to tear. “No matter how hard she tries to convince herself otherwise.” She cleared her throat. “She still loves you.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know why you’re telling me this.” Tina throat tightened. “Bette and I already had our chance.”

“Do you love her?”

“We had our chance. Too many years has passed…”

“Are you still in love with her? Search yourself before you answer.” Andrea stood and left Tina by the windows.

******

Tina stopped in the middle of the sidewalk. “Search yourself before you answer.” She had only walked half a block before her legs, on their own accord, turned and headed back to the hospital. “Search yourself before you answer.” She gave the security guard a quick nod and made her to the telemetry unit and smiled at the nurse seated in front a computer. Softly she walked to Bette’s room and stood in the doorway as she had done earlier. Bette was asleep. "Search yourself before you answer." The glow from the monitor illuminated one side of Bette’s face. I still love her. She walked to the PA lounged and placed her belongings in her locker. I still love her.

She brought a pillow and blanket from the PA lounge and quietly positioned two chairs together for her to sit in. She made herself comfortable in the chairs as best she could and stared at the brunette. The light from the monitor casted a soft glow on one side of Bette’s face. A face still beautiful, Tina thought. The day’s events had worn her down. She made a mental note to get up before the change of shift in a few hours and soon she was fast asleep near the head of the bed. The soul mates were aware they were in close proximity and reached for each other’s hand in their sleep.

*******

Bette fluttered her eyes open and glanced at the monitor to her right. She knew enough to know that her blood pressure, her respiratory and oxygen level were normal. She felt something give her hand a tug. She looked down to her left and saw Tina’s head propped on a pillow against the railing. Beautiful Tina. Bette thought. What are you doing here? Bette smiled when she saw their entwined fingers. She watched Tina stir, unconsciously turning her head toward Bette. Smiling, then frowning with her brows furrowing. What is it you’re dreaming?

Tina bolted upright. She felt Bette’s thumb caressing the top of her hand. She unclasped her hand from Bette’s. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what happened. I was just going to stay here and leave before you woke up.” She saw warmth of expression and a smile grace the brunette’s face. “How are you doing?”  She asked softly.

“Better,” she smiled. ”What were you doing here?” She asked.

“I don’t know. I was…I was walking to the subway station. I know I said that I would come back and see you, but I don’t know if I would have done it….come back to see you tomorrow…today. I don’t know if I would have had the courage and I didn’t want to take that chance so I came back. I was going to stay for a couple of hours and leave before the change of shift and hang out in the PA lounge until enough time had passed where I could visited you.” She explained quickly.

Bette smiled at Tina’s flustered face as she listened to the blonde’s explanation to her simple question. “I’m glad…that you didn’t want to take the chance.”

Tina returned Bette’s smile. “It’s still early. Go back to sleep.”

“Will you stay?”

“If you want me to.”

“I want you to.”

“Then I’ll stay.”

Bette settled back in the bed and watched her former lover eased back on the two chairs. “That must be very uncomfortable.”

“It’s okay.” Tina adjusted a pillow.

“Here, you can have this.” Bette hand Tina an extra pillow.

Tina accepted the pillow. It was still warm. “Thanks.” She placed the pillow behind her head and inhaled. The pillow smelled of Bette’s shampoo. Tina closed her eyes; the familiar smell of the shampoo lulling her to sleep.

Bette turned to her side and faced Tina; her face was the last thing Bette saw before she fell asleep and for the second time their fingers entwined of their accord.

tbc