Bette raised her head at the source of the voice and saw a woman, probably in her thirties. The woman sat down beside Bette, but still left some space between them. She waved the bottle in front of the brunette again. ”C’mon”

Bette got a hold of the bottle cautiously and took a swig of the burning liquid. She grimaced and then passed the bottle back to the woman, who seemed distant. They stayed like this for some time, not uttering a word to one another, just sipping whiskey and admiring the scenery.

”I’ve lost my job today, they fired me for being honest. What have you lost?” The woman blurted out.

Bette took a gentle breath and smiled sadly. ”My life…”

The woman remained silent and Bette was glad. The silence was better, the silence said more than words could.

Bette lied back down on the sand and relaxed. Much tired as she was the brunette didn’t bother to fight the sleepiness and eventually she let the slumber take over her.

***

”Ma’am, are you okay?”

As Bette heard someone she jerked awake. Looking around, disoriented, Bette saw a bottle that was still by her side, but that woman was nowhere to be seen.

”Ma’am? Do you want me to take you to the hospital?” A man with a dog asked the brunette.

Bette glanced at him, squinting at the sun. ”What time is it?” She asked back, her throat sore and hoarse. She was chilled to the bone.

”Nearly half past seven in the morning”

Bette stood up and shook some sand from her clothes. ”I don’t need a hospital, thanks”

The man was gone then. Bette walked to the road and climbed into a cab. Dictating Tina’s home address, the brunette hoped she could catch her before she would leave to college.

And she was just in time.

Observing from across the street, Bette’s insides overturned when she noticed the blonde coming out of the house, followed by her sister. She was dressed in a nice dress and was walking lightly. She seemed to be in a great mood. Bette almost lost it when Tina laughed heartily at something her sister said.

Oh how she wanted Tina to notice her too, to look at her with the adoration she had always had in her eyes when looking at the brunette. Bette would die right here just from that look…

When Tina came up to her car ready to get inside, Bette nearly ran out of the cab only not to lose the sight of Tina…but Tina was already in her car before the brunette could do anything.

”Oh God…” Bette breathed out, putting a hand to her crazy pounding heart.

As Tina’s car disappeared from her field of view, Bette rested her forehead against the window and broke out into tears…