“I know. I’m sorry for scaring you.” Bette’s pained expression did little to ebb the fury behind Tina’s once compassionate eyes. She hesitated a moment, wanting to say something to salvage anything between them, but sighed in defeat instead.

It was time.

Bette closed her eyes, gathering as much strength she could muster, as she prepared to leave, allowing Tina the rest she deserved with her new family.

“I. I should go.”

Vanquished, Bette slowly turned around to exit, but not before stealing one last glimpse of her beautiful baby nestled in Tina’s guarding arms. Drawing on willpower alone, she braved a final regard at Tina before walking through the threshold, down the house steps and into the comfort of her trusty convertible.

**************************************************************

As Bette reflected back to the hatred that consumed Tina’s demeanor when she was leaving, Bette wondered how everything fell apart. She’d processed their relationship with all its issues many times over since their reconciliation, but still could not fathom how they strayed so far from each other in such a short amount of time.

The rain had commenced, breaking the silence Bette had become accustomed to in the hours following her departure. At first, the rainfall dancing on the hood of the engine did little to stir the wretched woman from her depressive introspection. It wasn’t until the first clap of thunder did Bette realize the weatherman’s prediction was for once accurate on this fateful evening.

Her view now completely obscured by the sheet of water cascading down the windshield, Bette decided it was time to go. A fleeting moment of hope that Tina and Angelica would be at the house when she returned caused her mood to turn from unbelievably bad to worse. She scoffed then spewed a sick guttural chuckle at the bittersweet thought of the two them being so close yet so far out of her reach.

The car wended its passenger down Laurel Canyon toward West Hollywood. Bette only wished to remain alone with her thoughts the rest of the night. Any reminders of the life she used to have would crumble her already damaged soul, so once the car turned onto her street, she gave a silent prayer for an empty house.

It was.