Fucking bitch. I could kill her. Tina thought silently while at the same time nodding in understanding, her fingers lovingly running over Bette’s arm for comfort.

"I gave so much of myself to her that when she walked out, I didn’t have anything left. I didn’t believe in giving anymore"

Oh baby . . . Tina was completely heartbroken but she found the strength to remain quiet and let Bette finish. It was hard to hear but a big part of Tina was glad that the brunette was finally opening up. She knew how much Bette hated vulnerability.

"I lived my life a certain way. I didn’t do relationships, I didn’t discuss my feelings or open up to anyone. I spent so much of my time trying to protect myself from getting hurt that I wasn’t really living my life. I was living only a portion of it, the part that I was content with. Not the part I was happy with"

A shiver ran up Bette’s arm and her eyes immediately dropped to the slender fingers caressing it. With a small smile, she grabbed the slightly smaller hand and held it in her own. She admired the beautiful contrast in their skin, feeling her heart swell with the fact that she had Tina in her life.

"It wasn’t until we got together that I realized I had been cutting myself off from something incredible. You give me such an amazing feeling Tina. I’d give anything to feel it everyday"

Tina felt her eyes well up with tears, smiling wide and swallowing the large lump in her throat. This time, she had wanted to respond but couldn’t find the words to say. She had been rendered speechless.

"We fight and I know our relationship isn’t perfect but . . there’s no place I’d rather be. Being with you  . . I learned that its possible to love and be loved in return. The funny thing is, you don’t even have to do anything. I just look into your eyes and I see it. I feel it"

Without even realizing what she was doing, Tina sat up and turned around. She faced the woman who had helped her overcome so many of her fears, feeling thankful beyond all reason that she had effected the brunette in the same way.