"Hi," I responded shyly.
　　　　 She smiled at my response and said, "my name is Bette Porter." Bette. What a 　　　　beautiful name. The perfect name for a goddess.
　　　　 She extended her hand to shake mine and I shook it tentatively feeling sparks riding up my arm as soon as　our skin touched. Suppressing a gasp that threatened to escape I responded, "I’m Tina Kinnard."
　　　　 She smiled again making my heart leap and my stomach lurch. What was this woman doing to me? "Do you like art, Tina?" she said.
　　　　 "Yes," I said, "I never have a chance to look at much though."
　　　　 "That’s the case with most people," Bette said, "look, my gallery is opening a new exhibit tonight. I’m just on my lunch break." She reached in the pocket of her tight skirt and pulled out a small card handing it to me. "The exhibit is about woman empowerment," she said looking behind me toward Eric, "I think you should come."
　　　　 I turned and saw Eric’s angry expression I knew what was my fate when we got home. "I-I don’t think I can make it," I said softly.
　　　　 Bette smiled and nodded in understanding as if she knew exactly why I couldn’t. "Well, if you want a change," Bette said softly, "you should come."
　　　　 I nodded slowly and looked towards the bartender who had been standing there for a while. "Um can I have a beer please?" I said to him.
　　　　 "What type ma’am?" he asked.
　　　　　　　 I looked toward Eric anxiously and then back to the bartender. I know what he would do to me if I didn’t get the right one.
　　　　 "Get her a Heineken," Bette said quickly.
　　　　 The bartender nodded and went off to get the beer. I looked at Bette in shock and she said, "there’s an empty Heineken in front of him. I don’t want you to get in trouble," she disdainfully.
　　　　 How did she know that’s what I was struggling with? She was reading me like a book! "Thanks," I said quickly grabbing the beer before she could read anymore.
　　　　 Before I turned to leave she grabbed my arm gently-the gentlest anyone has ever grabbed my arm-and said, "don’t let him hurt you, Tina."
　　　　 I love how she said my name. I nodded slowly and walked away from her. She is a goddess but also the biggest sin. She is heaven but she will bring me hell. I had a choice to make. Stay with the safety of a man who maybe will change his violent ways or go to the uncertainty.
　　　　 I made my decision that same night. Eric was so angry and he wouldn’t stop hitting me. It all happened in a blur. He had hit me in the face then I felt his knee crack me in the ribs. I remember crying out in pain and begging me to stop but he taken off his belt and started whipping me with it. He did so mercilessly not even worrying about the metal part of it hitting my back ferociously.
　　　　 When he finished he stormed out of the house in a rage and I kept on hearing my goddess’ voice saying, "don’t let him hurt you…You should come tonight."
　　　　 I dragged myself upstairs and cleaned my wounds with peroxide from the first aid kit. I put some dark glasses on to cover the dark bruise on the top of my cheek near my eye. I went to my closet and grabbed a black formfitting dress that was simple and didn’t expose any part of the deep gashes that were on my back from the whipping.
　　　　 I grimaced at the stinging pain as the clothes rubbed gently against the cuts. I took some aspirin for the pain before I packed all of my things in a suitcase, grabbed my purse and left. By the time I reached the gallery, the aspirin had kicked in and I no longer felt the sting on my back.
　　　　 The first thing I saw when I entered the gallery was the goddess talking to some guests.　 She looked even more breathtaking when she was standing and interacting joyfully with people. At the bar earlier I couldn’t see her legs but now I saw the thin, long caramel colored legs that enticed me to go to her. Someone bumping into me knocked me out of the trance and I turned to apologize.
　　　　 "Sorry," I said to the skinny blonde woman who had just walked in.
　　　　 "No I’m sorry, I wasn’t paying attention," she responded, "hey I’ve never seen you here before. Bette’s exhibits always have the same people."
　　　　 "Y-you know her?" I said nervously.
　　　　 "Yeah, she is my ex-girlfriend, now we’re best friends," she answered.
　　　　 I remained speechless for a while. My goddess is gay? For a second I had an image of her on top of me and my legs wrapped around her then I shook my head out of it. What are you thinking, Tina! "So how do you know Bette?" The blonde woman said with a kind smile.
　　　　 "I met her at a bar while she was on her lunch break and she invited me,"　I said.
　　　　 "She invited now did she?" she said with a small smile. I gave her a quizzical look and she laughed at my obvious ignorance that I didn’t understand　and she said, "my name is Alice."
　　　　 "Tina," I responded shaking her hand firmly.
　　　　 "You bothering my guest Alice?" Bette’s voice said startling us.
　　　　 "No! Just saying hi," Alice said defensively.
　　　　 "Don’t believe anything she says," Bette said to me with a smile, "she likes to lie." Alice let out a playful gasp as Bette grabbed my arm and motioned me to follow her. Alice stayed behind laughing then walking over to the drinks table.
　　　　 "Here’s a beautiful piece of art I want you to see," Bette said, "it changed my life and I think it will do the same for you."
　　　　 I looked up and saw the most beautiful work of art I had ever seen. It was abstract. There was a corner that was painted red and in the red corner was a woman. She was crying in the fetal position on the floor covering her head protectively. Cowering over her was a man holding his hand menacingly over her head. The man looked massive compared to her, he almost looked beastly.
　　　　 The red faded into a blue section where the woman was at the door with her suitcases in hand. She had an angry determined look on her face and the beastly man was on his knees behind her. He didn’t look as beastly in this part, he had black tears rolling down his face. The blue faded into yellow and the woman was in several situations. In one she was reading a pile of bills with her hands on her head. In another she was working at a fast food restaurant. And in the last she was having a candle light dinner with a woman. The yellow faded into green and the woman was lying on a bed in the arms of that other woman from the date. She looked happy, blissful and at peace. The green faded away and the next section was a black and white portrait of the woman with a heart-felt smile on her face.
　　　　 I couldn’t stop the tears that flowed down my eyes as I stared at the picture breathless. I felt my goddess’ gentle hand wiping my tears away and sweet voice say, "that’s what happened when I saw it too."
　　　　 "It’s so beautiful," I managed to say.
　　　　 "And hits home doesn’t it," she said gently, "why don’t you take off those glasses?"
　　　　 I averted my eyes as more tears spilled out of them. I felt her gentle touch on my chin as she turned my face toward hers. "Come with me," she whispered motioning her eyes to the people around us. I followed her instantly, unable to control the movements of my body.
　　　　 We went into her office where she closed the door behind me and sat down on her desk.
　　　　 She motioned for me to get closer and I did. She gently took off my glasses as I stopped in front of her and her eyes watered once she saw my hurt.
　　　　 She cupped my chin gently, bringing her lips to the bruise and lingering there for a moment. I felt her cool breath on my hurt and I felt a chill run down my spine. She lowered her face slightly and brushed her lips against mine. My breath hitched and she moved in, pressing her lips firmly against mine.
　　　　 Electricity was jolting throughout my body and I parted from her abruptly, unable to handle the tension.
　　　　 She smiled warmly as if telling me that she understood. "You don’t have to stay with him," she said gently.