Sidney exhaled when she saw her wife. “Hi Pretty lady,” she said, her voice soft and loving.

Bette was suddenly shy. “Hi.”

The blonde held up her hands as if warding off a verbal assault. “I know you said to give you space. I’ve been trying. But I needed to see that you were okay. I miss you, Bette.”

Bette swallowed, meeting sad blue eyes. “I’m okay. I feel much better now.”

Sidney walked quickly to the bed and sat down beside Bette, grabbing her wife’s hand, holding it tightly. “I was so worried. I love you so much, Bette.”

Bette nodded, unsure of how to respond.

Sidney kissed her hand and searched the dark chocolate orbs with her eyes. “You know I’ll never stop loving you.”

“Sidney…,” Bette began.

Tears filled the sad blue eyes and she dropped the hand resting in her own. “I know. I know. We need closure. And I’m trying, Bette. I loved you for so long, I don’t know how not to love you.”

Bette nodded again. Sidney pulled her into a brief hug and kissed her cheek as they separated. “I brought you some food. Please come and eat,” she said.

Bette followed her into the kitchen. They sat at the table, sharing boxes of Chinese food. Bette was hungrier than she’d realized, and Sidney watched her eat with pride. Happy that she could meet at least one of her wife’s needs.

Bette grew self-conscious. “Aren’t you hungry?” she asked.

Sidney nodded, nibbling on cold chicken and rice. She was edgy. Bette could feel it. “What’s going on with you, Sidney?’

Dark blue eyes crinkled, and Sidney opened and closed her mouth a few times, struggling to find the right words. In the end, she failed to answer. “You always liked the shrimp lo mein,” she said.

“Yeah?” asked Bette.

Sidney nodded. “Always.” Her eyes grew wet with tears. “I used to know what you needed. I used to be what you needed, Bette.”

Bette’s only memories were from 15 years ago. When she dated Sidney yet found herself in love with Tina. And though their courtship had been brief in Bette’s reality, she and Sidney had been very close at one time. “Sometimes people grow apart, Sid. We all grow. That doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing.”