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Tina,

I know she loved me in her own way, but I also know that you are the one that will forever hold her heart. Take care of it this time. Take care of each other this time.

You better not break her heart.

Jodi

——————————————

“I won’t,” Tina said wistfully to no one in particular as she exhaled loudly. She wasn’t quite sure how to take the letter, but she knew Jodi’s words weren’t meant as a threat.

“You won’t what, T,” asked Bette as she walked over to where Tina was standing. “I’ll show you mine if you show me yours,” she said with a grin as she cocked her eyebrow.

“Bette!” Tina admonished as she attempted to grab Bette’s letter out of her hand.

“Hey…hey! Even exchange,” said Bette as she held her letter out to one side.

“Ok, ok. Count of three. One..two…

Bette grabbed Tina’s letter before she could finish counting. It didn’t take long for her to read its contents.

“That’s it? Wow, I feel like I got the raw end of the deal,” said Bette.

“I would have just told you what was in it if you had asked.”

It took Tina much longer to read Bette’s letter. As she finished, all she could do was look at Bette with tears in her eyes.

“That was beautiful.”

“I know. I didn’t deserve her,” Bette said as she looked away. “I feel horrible at the way things ended. But the screwed up thing is that while I feel horrible, I have never been happier in my life than I am at this moment. Does that make me a horrible person?”

“No, it makes you human. She quoted Eliot. That is…”

“Perfect? Ironic? Jodi. Bette said finishing Tina’s thought.

“Something like that.”

“Even though the poem is really talking about death, it’s also talking about new life and new beginnings. Ending up where you started. Going home. I feel like I am finally home, T.”

“Me too,” Tina said as she wrapped her arms lazily around Bette’s shoulders.

“You know, I could get used to this.”

“Me too.”

Bette smiled. “Do you say anything other than ‘me too?’”

Tina shook her head.

“I love you.”