The crowd clapped and Bette came down from the podium and into Kit’s waiting arms.  Kit caressed Bette’s back, kissing her softly on the cheek.

“It’s going to be okay.” Kit whispered, “She’s looking down on you and loves you more than you can even imagine.” The tears fell onto Kit’s shoulder but Kit kept holding her.  Helena walked up from behind and wrapped her arms around Bette’s waist.  She rested her head on Bette’s shoulder.

“Baby, you can cry.  It’s okay.”  Her friends followed close behind, comforting her too.

Bette stood there, sandwiched in between the women who meant the most to her.

**

The next night, Helena and Bette curled up on Helena’s bed.  Bette and Helena’s fingers stayed intertwined as Helena pressed her nose against Bette’s cheek.

“How are you feeling today?” Bette asked.

“I’ve been better, but I’m doing okay.  I realized something.”

“What?”

“I know that my mother wouldn’t have wanted me to dwell on her death.  She’d want me to use it as a lesson to show me that I have to live life like every day is my last day—no regrets and always say what I mean.”

Helena nodded, “Sounds good to me.”

“I’m glad she came back to me.”

“Me too.”

“Helena?” Bette sat up and looked at Helena.

“Yeah?”

“I’m glad you came into my life too.  And you came into it at the right time.”

Bette kissed Helena softly.  Helena smiled against her lips.  It felt like it took longer than it did for Bette to let her in, but now that she was there, she never wanted leave.  It seemed impossible almost for her to make it inside her heart.  To love her was to fight for her.

It seems like you’re impossible now.  You want love.  You want me to show you how.  It feels like it’s all possible now.  You need love and I’m gonna show you how. —Uh huh Her, I See Red.

“Me too.”

“My mother isn’t the only one who made me see something in myself.  You taught me how to love.”

“Better late than never right?”

For the first time, Bette let go of her emotional inhibitions and allowed her self to love again.  She had buried herself in Helena because she loved her so much; she made her forget everything that was going wrong in her life.  She never wanted this feeling to end.

“I love you, Helena.”

“I love you more.”

You like the way it feels good.  You love the way I make you forget. —Uh Huh Her, I see Red.