(Previously)

Orange County, Porter Mansion – Wednesday right before midnight

Alice took the envelope and nodded, not even trying to hide her tears. “Maybe I should come with you. If we stuck in the past we’d stuck together.”

Bette smiled with sadness in her eyes. “Thanks Alice, you are a great friend but I have to do this alone.”

Alice nodded again and enveloped Bette in a tight hug, “Safe travels, Bette. We’ll be here when you get back.”

Long after Alice left, Bette waited silently by the oaks as her watch was slowly creeping to midnight. As soon as the watch seconds hand began counting the last ten seconds Bette whispered, “I’m sorry, baby, but I have to do this”, and stepped into the frightening darkness toward the blinding but brief spark of light.

~~~~~~~~

Out of Closet (TiBette time-travel romance), Ch. 58

Chapter 58: Leaving you is the hardest thing I had to do (Tina learns about Bette’s departure; Bette is back in the past)

Place: Los Angeles, CA

Year: April 20, 2006 – after midnight

Tina and Bette’s house

Tina opened her eyes and adjusted to the darkness of the bedroom. Her hand automatically went to her right and found and empty pillow. She wondered for a brief moment if she had dreamed everything that happened earlier. Bette being here…making love all night…”I love you” whispers…everything.

Bette’s pillow was still a little warm and carried a familiar scent of her lover. Tina sat up straight and buried her face in her hands. The sobs shook her body. It wasn’t a dream. Bette was here and now she was gone. Tina looked around but couldn’t see any note or anything that Bette might’ve left for her. Nothing.

Tina wiped the tears, knowing that crying won’t help, especially crying over something she couldn’t control. She lied, Bette left…that was the end of it. She got off the bed and went to the kitchen. There was no note there either and Tina sighed, feeling that more tears were coming. She poured glass of wine and settled on the sofa in the living room.

It was dark but Tina didn’t feel like turning lights on. It was well after midnight but Tina knew she was facing another sleepless night and a possible anxiety attack. Not knowing where Bette went, if she will be back, if she will ever forgive her…just one of those reasons was enough to fill her chest with so much tension Tina thought she would explode from the pain.