Dana, seeing Tina glance over to the chair, asked, “When are you going to forgive her? Don’t you think she’s suffered enough?”

“Yeah Tina. I know you miss her and you can’t live on Alice’s couch forever.” Shane eyed Tina and tired to read her expression.

“I’m not even angry at her anymore.” Tina stated.

“Then what are you waiting for?” Shane asked.

“Pride, Shane. My pride won’t let me.”

“Pride? Both you and Bette are miserable without each other. You know I love you TK, but I want my apartment back.”

“Okay. I’ll call her in a few minutes.”

Kit, holding Bette’s letter for Tina, walked over to Tina, Alice, Shane and Dana and sat down in Bette’s empty chair.

“Um…Tina. Bette was here earlier and she asked me to give this to you before she left town.”

Tina recognized the stationery right away.  She helped Bette pick it out. Kit handed the letter to Tina.

“Kit, wait.  What do you mean before she left town? Where did Bette go?”Alice asked.

“Tina, I think you should read the letter. She said that it was her last letter to you.”

Tina looked at Kit, Shane, Alice and Dana before she opened the envelope. Just looking at Bette’s writing made Tina’s heart flutter.

Dear Tina,

If you’re reading my letter it means Kit somehow persuaded you to read it. I don’t know what else to say but I’m sorry. Sorry for the pain and hurt I caused you. If there was some way that I can turn back the hands of time to where it all began I would, but I know that’s not possible. I want you to know that I was with Candace only one time and I know that’s not an excuse but I wanted you know that it was not an affair. It was lapse in judgment I that I will forever regret. For months I’ve tried to get you to talk to me, to see me, to forgive me and now I know it’s not going to happen so I’m moving on. I am going to do what you asked of me and leave you alone. I’m leaving L.A. because it hurts too much to be in the same city as you and not be able to see you and tell you I love you. Hopefully there will be a time when you think about us and not feel the hurt and I can only pray that you will remember the love we once shared. I will love no other but you. I may have been your first, but you are my forever.

Bette

Tina touched the dry tear stain on the letter. A tear rolled down Tina’s cheek and fell on the exact same spot where Bette’s tear fell earlier. Tina looked at her friends’ faces and whispered “What have I done? What have I done?”