Tina: “Hey Al, it’s me. Can I stay here? Just for tonight.”

Alice seemed to wake quickly, “Tina! Uh…yeah….yeah sure uh…come in.”

Tina walked past Alice into the quiet apartment. Alice closed the door and followed Tina to the living room, switching on lights as she went. Tina sat on the couch, looking haggard. Alice sat down beside her and gently rubbed her back. They sat in silence for a long time, each of them just waiting for the other to speak. Alice could tell something was wrong, but she didn’t want to be her normal prying self. She knew if Tina was staying the night away from home then it had to be bad. Tina felt like crying. She debated on what to tell Alice. She knew Alice deserved some sort of explanation and decided she’d better start talking before the tears did. She bit her lip to stop the quivering then spoke quietly, “Um…I’m sorry to barge in here so late. I…I just didn’t know where else to go.”

Alice didn’t know what the ***** had happened, but she already felt sorry for Tina, “Shh…it’s ok….I don’t mind. Whenever you need me I’m here.”

Tina swallowed her urge to cry and remained strong enough to talk, “Thank you.”

Alice: “Are you going to be ok? Do you need to talk?”

Tina: “Yeah.”

Alice: “Well, what’s going on? Is Bette ok?”

Tina: “She’s fine….we had an argument.”

Alice was relieved to hear that…just an argument. She breathed a small sigh of relief, “Oh, I’m sorry. I understand though, you just needed some time away to cool off….”

Tina interrupted and spilled everything without hesitation, “She fucked Candace….I left her.”

Alice was floored, “She what?! OH MY GOD! Who the ***** is Candace? Wait a minute…that goddamned carpenter?”

Tina: “Alice please calm down….I can’t take much more excitement.”

Alice immediately remembered Tina and felt even more sorry for her, “Oh God, Tina, I’m so sorry. That doesn’t sound like Bette…well maybe the old Bette, but definitely not your Bette. I…I don’t know what to say.”

Tina let the tears escape from her eyes, “There’s nothing to say Alice….I’m just so ***** lost.” Tina put her face in her hands and sobbed. Alice held her close, holding her head, and trying to console her, “Shh….it’s ok…I’m so sorry…I’m so sorry.”