Tina panicked, but she wouldn’t let herself lose her grip, so she stayed still until Sophia disappeared into the house, and then she fully pulled herself over. She tripped coming down and she fell onto the grass, but it didn’t faze her. Not even for a moment. She was blind to anything but seeking the young woman out for herself. All of it would end, and she would have the peace of mind she needed, and the peace Bette needed, too.

With great agility, Tina stepped toward the house, re-adjusting her dress pants to sit properly at her waist. If her life were in danger, she figured, the least she could do was keep comfortable.

It was something she never would have done before Sophia, but without hesitation, Tina walked up the small steps from the backyard, and slid open the glass door – much like the doors at her place. It was only after she’d opened it that she realized how much danger she was in, but once she’d opened the door, it had all begun.

Sophia was looking up at her from the sofa, seemingly unfazed herself. They stared at one another for a long moment, and Tina could sense the shift in control. Sophia realized the implications of Tina finding where she was living. And just as she was thinking it, Tina spoke to her train of thought.

“How the fuck … how do you live here?”

Sophia smiled in her off-setting way, leaving the newspaper on the couch beside her. The longer she stalled Tina, the better chance she had at getting away. Or maybe something better. “Oh … I’ve lived here all my life.”

“That’s a fucking lie!” Tina insisted, full of anger in the body of the doorway. She certainly occupied it, but she wasn’t aware of her own powerful presence. “You tell me why you’re live here. I knew the couple who lived here.”

As Tina spoke, she surveyed the area to see it was kept quite nice and tidy except for seemingly random merchandise – much of which had Bette’s name affixed to it. There were pillows, papers, books, a mug, shirts, and more. Bette and Tina some of it said. Did Sophia really believe her name was Tina, or had she said so in order to play a game? Tina wondered, but she didn’t care much for that answer. She was more curious as to know how Sophia had come to stay in the house across from hers.