For a brief moment Tina was tempted to say yes but she knew she couldn’t. Bette valued honesty above all and Tina couldn’t lie anymore. She saw so much pain and anger in Bette’s eyes. Her heart was breaking but she knew that she had to tell the truth.

Tina took a deep breath and finally said the words she should’ve said when she first found out the truth, “I…can’t say that, Bette.”

“So you knew all along and never told me.”

“Bette, I didn’t mean to hurt you, I just couldn’t tell you.”

“Why didn’t you tell me, Tina?”

“I tried to tell you so many times and I almost did. Remember…on that night when we found out about Kit being in the accident? I was about to tell you when Alice interrupted us and then you fainted.”

“Why didn’t you tell me after that? In the hospital…when I woke up.”

“I didn’t want you to suffer because it was too close to the day when portal would be open and I didn’t want you to have to make a choice between two important people in your life, to make a choice to go back to Christina or to be here for Kit whom you love so dearly as if she was your own sister.”

Tina was as close to tears as Bette was. Bette clenched her teeth before answering, “Don’t you think that it was my choice to make and you took it away from me?”

Bette bit her lip and turned away, tears are freely flowing now down her beautiful face. Tina reached out for Bette’s hand but the distraught brunette moved it away and got off the bed. “I have to go.”

Bette began walking towards the door when she heard Tina’s voice that sounded so faint that she could barely hear it, “You said that you would never leave me…”

Bette stopped in her track and took a deep breath, closing her eyes and trying to control her anger that was overpowered by her love for Tina. She slowly turned around and faced Tina who by now was a picture of a profound remorse and misery.

Bette breathed out and opened her eyes, staring intensely at Tina. Her heart was breaking at the sight in front of her and she felt as if the monstrous claw of separation was ripping her heart out. Tina’s face was wet from tears, her eyes revealing all the love and regret that she felt, her lips quivering in her struggle to stop her tears from falling.

Bette felt so much pain, knowing that the decision she was about to make will break two hearts. Tina noticed Bette’s hesitation and repeated again, louder this time, “You promised that you would never leave me.”

Bette sighed and said evenly, trying to keep her voice from revealing too much emotion, “That was before I found out that you lied to me about something so important.”

“Can we talk about this, Bette?”

Bette stood by the bedroom door and looked at Tina quietly. To Tina, the silence between them lasted for entire century.

“Please, don’t be silent…please,” Tina got off the bed and took a hesitant step towards Bette.

Bette raised her arm to stop Tina from moving any closer. Another century passed by until she heard Bette’s voice full of pain and sadness, “I have to go, Tina. Please don’t follow me. I need to be alone right now.”

And with these words she turned around again and stormed out of the room. She knew her words hurt Tina, she wanted to hurt her. But at the same time her heart was breaking, knowing that she was leaving the love of her life and not knowing if she will ever see her again.

Back in the house Tina slowly dropped on the floor. Tears were streaming down her pale cheeks. She embraced her knees and began rocking back and forth on a floor, repeating the words as she cried, “You promised you would never leave me, Bette…you promised.”

TBC…