Hold a place for me Ch. 7  “Life”

Bette sat by herself at the planet bar and nursed a beer. She didn’t feel good. At least, not in the emotional sense. She felt cynical and depressed. Cycniscm she could deal with, but she’d never really known what it meant to be depressed except for when her mother left her as a little girl. This wasn’t like her….she was supposed to be strong and in control, not sappy and regretful. She’d never met anyone she couldn’t live without that is, until she met Tina. Now Tina was gone and waking up everyday to an empty bed was just another reminder that this wasn’t life. She felt like the life within her had seeped out when Tina walked out the door. “God, this is so pathetic.” Bette mumbled to herself. She didn’t even know why she was here so she downed the rest of the beer and stood to leave just as Kit came out from the kitchen.

Kit: “Hey baby sis, I’m glad you came. It’s so hard to get you out the house these days. It’s good to see you.”

Bette: “Yeah, good to see you, too. Um…I was just about to get going.”

Kit: “What? Why are you leaving?”

Bette: “I just don’t feel like being here. I thought maybe if I took your advice and came I would feel better, but I don’t. All I’m doing is sitting here wishing I was at home preferably asleep.”

Kit: “You sleep too much already. That’s all you ever do besides work.”

Bette: “Yeah, well it’s kind of hard to feel the hurt when you’re unconscious. You know, what I mean?”

Kit: “Bette, I’m really starting to worry about you. I mean, you’re not acting like yourself. All you do is mope around these days and it’s not healthy.”

Bette looks away avoiding her sister.

Kit: “Are you listening to me?”

Bette: “Do I have a choice?”

Kit: “Dammit Bette! You have got to get over this shit.”

Bette drops her face into her hands as she feels the tears stinging her eyes, “I know…I just don’t know how.”

Kit puts her arm around Bette’s thin frame and hugs her tightly, “It’s okay…look just quit thinking about everything. Let your mind rest and try to enjoy yourself. You know tonight’s karaoke night. You should stay and watch everyone it’ll be good for you. You know, Alice came by this morning and she said the girls might swing by tonight. Come on it’ll be fun.”