Previously…

Bette,

The paths of life are littered with the mistakes we’ve made and the pain we have caused.

But these mistakes are not meant to cripple, but instead, to empower. Live your life Bette.

Love your work, but don’t let it define you.

For it is only through mistakes that we learn: about ourselves; about others. If we do not change and grow as a result of the paths that we take, what have we learned? What was the point in any of it?

Never stop learning Bette. You have been given a second chance.

A chance to learn from your mistakes, and grow.

To create hope from regret; happiness from devastation; to create a new life from the death of the old.

I don’t regret the time we spent together. You are a part of my life of which I will always be proud. I have learned so many lessons from loving you, and from letting you go.  Don’t worry about me; I will be ok.

In me you will always find a friend. You are the lesson I have learned. In this poem you will find enlightenment and strength.

Always,

Jodi

T.S. Eliot, “Little Gidding” (I abbreviated this)

V.

What we call the beginning is often the end

And to make an end is to make a beginning.

The end is where we start from…

With the drawing of this Love and the voice of this Calling

We shall not cease from exploration

And the end of all our exploring

Will be to arrive where we started

And know the place for the first time…

When the tongues of flame are in-folded

Into the crowded knot of fire

And the fire and the rose are one….

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Tina looked over at Bette as she read her letter with tears in her eyes. It was obvious by her expression that the letter held something substantial for her.

 Tina wondered if hers did as well or if it would just be a letter whose sole purpose was to hurt in a way that only words could; she knew that Jodi would be completely justified in inflicting that type of pain if she chose to.

“No time like the present,” she said as she carefully opened the letter. As she looked inside, the first thing she noticed was her keys. She pulled them out, easily recognizing the three extra keys; one to the front door, the second to the backdoor and the third to Bette’s car.