“I know I said I was sorry already, but there’s more,” Bette said.  Her voice was starting to crack and she swallowed heavily.

For her part, she had spent the last two hours by the creek and up in the tree house realizing how much Tina meant to her and how foolish she had been to have lost her, because the truth was, once she had lost Tina, Bette had lost herself in the process.

“What else then?” Tina asked.

“I need you to take me to Knoxville tomorrow, to the art supply store,” Bette said.

“I didn’t think you wanted to paint anymore.”

Bette grimaced a little and shook her head.  How could she make Tina understand?  “I think I need to paint some more, and I want you to help me,” Bette said and she began to cry.

Tina was unnerved by those tears.  For in her childhood fantasies she had always been the one to rescue Bette, to comfort Bette.  In addition, she had made the promise long ago to Miriam she would protect the girl and that was exactly what she felt the urged to do just then –  to protect her and comfort her –  but she feared getting close and opening her heart up and being vulnerable.  Bette had hurt her so deeply.  Could she trust her again? 

Tina lifted the rolling stall door and hooked it in its hinges and then she walked closer to the brunette.  “I don’t understand, Bette.  How can I help you paint?” Tina asked softly.

“Don’t you see?” Bette asked crying harder now.

“No, I don’t see.  I don’t understand,” Tina said tenderly.

“You’re my muse, Tina.  I left here, left you, and my life went flat.  My talent, my hopes and dreams, everything just dimmed.  I need you.  Dear god, I need you so much!”  Bette hung her head and let the tears flow.

Tina shifted leg to leg.  This was an unexpected, but welcomed, revelation. Still she was hesitant.  Then she spied Bette holding something behind her back.  “Whatcha got there behind your back?”

Bette got herself under control and brought the candy bar out and held it in front of her. 

Tina stared at the object in Bette’s hands.  It was such a simple gesture, but it carried with it huge significance.  In a split second she was transported back to the day that Bette had walked into the garage and bestowed the little gift on her.  She remembered thinking that no one had ever shown her such kindness before and she had cherished the candy’s wrapper as a token of that moment.