Reading the words was hard. It was hard to tolerate because it had been for Bette, and she hadn’t been the one to write it.

I LOVE YOU.

She felt sick.

Bette was standing before her, staring at the look on Tina’ face. “What is it …”

“It’s … here. Just look.”

Bette shook her head, grabbing Tina in, close to her. She kissed her wife as frustration grew between them, and wrapped her tight from years of experience. She knew what helped her wife best.

As Tina threw the note back to the counter, she buried her face in by Bette’s neck. “How did … What … Who the fuck does she think she is …?”

“I don’t know,” Bette answered with honesty. She felt so powerless, and so conflicted. Someone else loved her to the point of fear-inducing obsessiveness, and it hurt. She had no idea how upset Tina must have felt. “Tina, it’s okay. Hey, at least it’s nothing scary, right?”

“I fucking hate this, Bette.”

“Are we … overreacting?”

“I think we’re adequately reacting, Bette! Some fucking weirdo sneaks into our house to leave you a flower and declares their love for you, and that’s not a big deal? Just because it’s flowers and not a knife or something, that doesn’t make it okay.”

The fear struck Bette worse than ever, and, wounded, she hunched over and jogged off to their room. The second she did, Tina realized how damaging she’d been to Bette’s already-emotional reaction to her stalker. It was becoming so twisted, and Tina remembered Annette’s words. Relationships could get muddled in such situations, so Tina picked herself up and walked down the hall after Bette. She left the note for fear that she would throw it out in anger.

“I would stop it if I could!” Bette shouted just as Tina rounded the corner to their room, clasping her hands behind her neck as she curled up on their bed. “God … I hate this so much. It’s like you think I enjoy it.”

Tina walked over slowly, sighing.

“What if she does stab me?” Bette sobbed quietly.

“Hunny … I’m so sorry. That was really insensitive of me. You’re right, okay? I’m overreacting. I was just upset. I’m sorry … what do you want to do about it?” She waited for a moment, just watching Bette’s unusually emotional reaction. “… Can I hold you?”

“I’m so scared she’s gonna attack me.”

“She won’t have the chance, okay? They’re gonna catch her before she can hurt you.”

“And what if she does?” Bette asked angrily, tears already streaming down her face as she turned up to look at Tina, who sat lovingly at the side of the bed. “What if she kills me?! What if-”

Without thinking, Tina had to silence the outrage. She softly put her hand over Bette’s mouth, trying not to become emotional herself. “Shhhh. Baby …”

As Tina moved her hand, Bette swallowed hard and spoke to her: “I know I try to stay strong for you … but don’t you know I’m scared, too?”

Tina had to admit it was harder when Bette confessed how scared she really was, but she kept that to herself. They would have to be strong together. “I won’t let anything happen to you. Ever. I’m coming everywhere with you from now on. For both of our sakes!”

“Even after they catch this person?” Bette asked shyly with a smile Tina always called the cute one. And as unrealistic as their discussion was, Bette wanted Tina with her always. At the time, those precious promises helped to wield away her fears.

Tina wanted that, too. As unrealistic as it was, the idea was marvelous. “Forever.”