Her thoughts came to an abrupt end as her cell phone, which was laid on the table, suddenly began to furiously ring and vibrate. She looked at the caller ID and when she saw it was Peggy’s number, she immediately picked up the phone.

„Peggy, is everything alright? Have you found something out?“ Bette asked agitated without even let Peggy greet her first.

„Bette, do you still want to help me?“

„Yes, of course I want to. Did you find something out? Is Helena in danger?“ she had stood up from the couch and was now pacing in her livingroom up and down. She was so nervous to hear the answer to her questions that she couldn’t stop fidgeting with her trousers waistpants.

„I will come and pick you up in 20 minutes. Be ready“ and she hung up without saying anything more.

Bette looked dismayed at her phone. She had waited worried sick for 3 fucking days for any kind of informations and that was all she get?! What did this mean?

Bette thought again about Peggy’s last spoken words. The words statet clearly more than it first appeard. When Peggy told her, she would come by to pick her up, it would surely mean that they would drive to the prison. In turn it would mean that Peggy had found out something really bad about Ehtan Kearney and Helena definitely was in danger.

At that Bette felt hot and cold at the same time. The realization of how serious the situation was, sat deeply within herself and she felt as she would either throw up or faint. The whole world around her was spinning in a maddening pace leaving her dizzy and feeble. Sie didn’t dare to move for the fear of falling down literally. So she knelt down on her knees and buried her face in her hands. Thousand of thoughts shot through her head; Helena entering the visitors room, Helena crying silently, the guard who watched her with a nasty gleam in his eyes, Helena gripping her hand for help, reassurance and courage, the little group of friends consoling each other over the news. But also good memories like Helena smiling when she was happy, joking and laughing with Alice, Helena hugging her children thightly in her arms…

The last stray of memories being the worst ones. Would Helena ever return the way she used to be? Would she still find joy in life? Would Helena ever let someone touch her again? If yes, could her friends hug or touch her without having Helena quiver? How would Helena look like when they find her? Could it be already to late to prevent anything?

Her thoughts were running amok. Feeling like her head is gonna explode any moment. And when Bette let her hands glide through her hair and gripped a fistful of them just above her neck, she took a deep breath and screamed out in agony at the top of her lungs, hot tears running down her face.

Suddenly Bette hit the ground with both hands and told herself with a shaky and hoarsy voice

„Get up! Now is not the time to lose it and break down! She needs you! She needs you to be strong for her. She can’t need you weak like this! So get up! GET THE FUCK UP!“

And with that she stood up, cleaned her face und faced herself in the mirror. She repeated her own strict words in her head over and over again until she heard Peggy’s driver honk the horn from the limo outside.

She stared at herself one final time before she grabbed her purse and walked out the door.