Tina’s tears began to flow even more freely.

Bette continued, “So the man wrote that this, then, is the source of our desire to love each other. That love is born into every one of us; and it calls out, or calls back the halves of our original nature together, and constantly tries to make or unite into one out of these two separate halves, and heal the wound of human nature.”

She kissed Tina’s cheek, gently, and wiped her tears, “He says each of us is always seeking the half that matches… and when a person meets the half that is her very own, then something wonderful happens: the two are struck from their senses by love, by a sense of belonging to one another, and by desire, and they don’t want to be separated from one another, not even for a moment.”

Tina held the arms that embraced her, sobbing now, “These are the people who finish out their lives together, and still, at the end of life, cannot say what it is they want from one another…. and he says that the soul of every lover longs for something more than mere sex; something so great and deep a joy in being with the other.  That her soul cannot say what it is, but like an oracle it has a sense of what it wants, and like an oracle it hides behind a riddle.”

Bette released her embrace, and moved to the side of the tub, then entered the water, and slowly lowered herself ‘til she sat on Tina’s lap.

Bette gently washed Tina’s face, tracing her features with the tips of her finger tips.  She poured some more bath soap into the wash cloth and lathered it, then soaped her neck, and the back of her ears.  She massaged Tina’s temples.

Tina slowly opened her eyes, and looked back into Bette’s large brown ones.

“T…I’m sorry, too.  So very sorry that that happened to you…”

Tina shook her head, “Bette, there’s so much more I want to tell you; that I need to say…”

Bette was leaning closer, head angled, eyes shut.  Tina met her halfway, and both moaned into the soft kiss.  It’s been so long….

Tina drew back first, saying softly with a shaky voice, “Bette there is nothing more that I’d like to do than make love with you right now.  Joining with you, it’s a physical ache, almost.  And I miss you so, so much.”

Bette smiled, nodded.  She partially stood up from Tina’s lap, then used her arms to help her stand up the rest of the way.  “I’ve missed you, T.  But yes, we do need to finish talking…about what you wanted to share about your discussions with Dan.  The man I spoke of was right… there is something that the soul takes joy in, on meeting its half, something so great and so deep in just being with the other.”

She stepped out of the tub, gingerly, looked back at Tina, who was looking at her with lust and hunger, and wrapped herself again with the robe.  She bent to give Tina another soft kiss.  “Come back to the breakfast table when you’re done?  I left some clothes for you to wear by the sink.  Or else you could use the other robe over there.  We can talk some more.”

“And I need to tell you something about my heart, too,” she smiled warmly, and opened the door to the bedroom.