“Excellent Bette.  Stay just like that”

“Do you mind if I do something else?  There’s something I want to tell you.  May I continue Bette?  It will only take a couple more minutes.”

“Please” Bette softly replied.

“Okay, keep your eyes closed and listen to me.  I’m going to speak quietly in your ear now and by all means please stop me if this is uncomfortable for you in any way.  Understand?”

“I understand.” Bette slowly said feeling better already. 

Getting as close to Bette as possible, Tina laid down on her side.  She bent her arm at the elbow and rested her head in her hand. Her other hand firmly was planted on Bette’s lower abdomen to monitor her breathing.   Tina moved Bette’s hair away from her ear and began speaking calmly and quietly into it. 

“Bette, I don’t know you very well but from what you’ve shared with me, I know that you are in the process of overcoming a huge life altering event.   I admire you for your courage and want to help quiet your busy mind.  The intent here is not to remove activity but to direct your concentration to one healing element – one sound, one word, one image, one breath.  When your mind is quiet and full of calm and peace, it can’t take off on its own and worry, stress out or get depressed.  Please know that I am here for you as you continue making a new life for yourself.  If there is anything that I can do for you Bette, please let me know.  I’d be honored to help you in any way I can.”

That was the straw that broke the camel’s back. It was so endearing to hear someone else express caring sentiments about Bette.  Yes,  Bette had Helena for support and friendship, but she felt like that was all she had.  Besides, Helena had her own cross to bear.  Conversations with her parents left Bette empty.  Everytime she hung up from the terse and infrequent attempts at communication, she smoked a cigarette.  She hadn’t gotten in touch with her sister Kit since moving to LA, and well, Ziggy seemed to have dropped off the face of the ***** earth.   She felt so alone sometimes that words couldn’t start to describe her emptiness and pain.  Tina sensed this loneliness and spoke directly to it,  while Bette listened attentively in the background.

Tears began streaming down Bette’s face as she opened her eyes to find Tina’s eyes still closed.  Bette continued to stare at the pretty blonde at her side and wondered what Tina was thinking about.   When Tina released her eyes from hiding, she looked at Bette and smiled warmly.   

“Wow.that was deep Tina.  Thank you.  I feel really light now.  Quite relieved.”

“You’re more than welcome”

“I still want you to come to my class Bette”

Bette laughed as she admired the intense sun goddess in front of her.

TBC