Tina stood outside of Bette’s apartment with her forehead rested against the door and her eyes closed. For her it felt like she was standing there for the whole eternity, wrestling with her mind whether what she was going to do was the right thing. Whether her decision was rational, wise. She had spent the last few days without any word from her lover since their beach talk, having been thinking about her decision over and over, weighing all the pros and cons possible. She didn’t have anyone to talk to about that, to ask for advice and it had been driving her insane. She felt alone now, but most important – she felt scared of her future. For her future. She didn’t want to be scared, but she was, immensely so.

Heaving a quivering sigh, Tina pushed her head off the door and pulled herself together before finally knocking.’Be strong, just be strong’, was the mantra she kept repeating in her mind. Before long she heard soft approaching footsteps from the inside of the apartment. When the door opened, Tina’s heart skipped a beat.

The first thing she noticed was despondency, written all over Bette’s lacking vitality frame. There was some baggy skin below her hollow eyes that were also inflamed and in general looked like the brunette hadn’t slept in ages. Her greasy disheveled hair were falling limp on her shoulders, her sweatpants were barely hanging on her hips for she had clearly dropped lots of weight.

Tina’s face distoted with sorrow that she felt for the haggard woman before her. She stepped over the threshold determinately and without any hesitation took Bette into her full embrace. The brunette seemed to slacken even more in her arms, almost having Tina hold her.

Having closed the door, Tina led her dejected lover towards the sofa. She seated her there and crouched down in front of her, taking her hands.

”Baby,” the blonde said softly, searching Bette’s eyes, which were staring at her in trance. ”I’ve been thinking these past days. Thinking about us, about everything you told me on the beach,” she continued with more and more resolve. Squeezing Bette’s hands tight, she moved to sit on the sofa close to the brunette. ”I’ve made my decision. I’m with you all the way, Bette. Do you hear me? You are the love of my life and I will never leave you. We’ll be okay, we’ll figure something out, baby,” Tina whispered out her latter statement, caressing Bette’s cheek with the back of her hand.