Now she had a new life to take care of, to save and protect. That was her main objective and she felt she needed all the strength she could muster for this big battle – the battle of getting back on her feet, the battle of starting off with a relatively clean slate of knowledge and experience, and also avoiding some of the temptations associated with her former life.

***

It was near midnight when Ayola parked her car in front of her house. After the never-ending preproduction meeting, which involved meeting lots of new people and participating in lots of brainstorming activity, all she wanted to do was have a beer and go to bed.

She got out of the car and walked up to the tall wooden fence. She opened the gate to the front yard, but before fully crossing the gateway she froze on the spot for a moment.

”Bette?” she called softly, squinting at the brunette, who was sitting in one of the patio chairs all alone in the dim porch light. Frowning a little, Ayola closed the gate and made her way to the neighboring chair. She sat down slowly and studied Bette.

”Hey,” Bette offered as she smiled weakly out of the side of her mouth.

”Hey yourself,” Ayola replied, giving her a smile of her own and a somewhat concerned look. ”What are you doing out here by yourself?”

Bette half-shrugged. ”Just resting.”

”You didn’t use the key I gave you, did you?” Ayola asked, already knowing the answer.

”I thought I’d wait for you first,” Bette explained, glancing at Ayola with sheepish expression.

Ayola sighed helplessly and shook her head. Then she smiled at her again. There was something about her new friend that made Ayola feel warm and comfortable.

”How was your day?” she could tell that Bette looked genuinely tired.

Bette held a pensive pause before responding, ”It was a little overwhelming, so to speak.”

Ayola watched her. ”I understand,” she then uttered in almost a whisper.

”How was yours?” Bette asked after a while.

”Hectic,” Ayola chose to say.

Bette nodded as she chose not to say anything. A pleasant silence fell upon the two, each wandered off into their own thoughts.

The profound moment was interrupted when Bette cleared her throat and spoke in a gentle voice, ”I uh… I have something for you. It might be silly, but…” she trailed off as if uncertain how to finish her sentence.

Ayola turned to look at her, paying close attention as Bette rummaged in her rucksack. The brunette pulled out the object and gave it to Ayola. Breaking into a broad grin, the woman stared at the knit horse plush toy in her hands. Her eyes were beaming with joy and tenderness.

”Oh my God, Bette…” she glanced at the brunette and then back to the toy.

”I saw it at the store and thought it looked somewhat similar to the way you described your horse.”

”Chivie looks almost exactly like this little plushie!” Ayola said enthusiastically. ”She even has this faint white star between her eyes, just like this toy has.”

Bette smiled at her, for the first time that day her smile did reach her eyes.

Ayola looked at her meaningfully for a moment. ”I want to hug you. Can I hug you?”

Bette watched as Ayola stood up and pulled her out of her chair as well before wrapping her arms around her.

”Thank you…” holding tight, Ayola whispered against Bette’s angular shoulder.

Bette swallowed, unnerved all of sudden, being held by another person with such warmth, feeling another person around her body, feeling the closeness of another human being. A tiny spark came alive inside her where only dead embers had lain for so long. Slowly relaxing into Ayola’s embrace, Bette closed her eyes and breathed again. Not only the way she was held felt good, it also felt so devastatingly familiar.

Letting go gently, Ayola looked up at the exhausted brunette. ”C’mon, roommate. I think we both need a long night of sleep,” she stated and then led Bette into the house where they finally collapsed on their respective beds and right into dreamland.