Tina fought the water that threatened to spill beyond her lids. She chewed on her lower lip and laid her head against Bette’s shoulder. She was immediately wrapped in a loving embrace as the trickles of salty liquid slid from beneath her lashes. Bette moved them gently to the music. There was a power in this moment. A magnitude that eclipsed the weight of her winding past.

From the instant, the loud hum had sounded in her ears and her 2005 Tina had been ripped from her arms, Bette had been searching for completeness. She’d worked feverishly to find Tina, to court her, love her, and stabilize the chaos of the new world in which she had emerged. Those hazel eyes. The look she’d seen in Tina’s soft gaze, had rooted her to the spot. The depth of love between them was now the reward for her passage through the labyrinth of this reality. It was richer and sweeter than what they’d shared before. The experiences that molded them had aged the quality of their bond. Enriched the potency and added layers and dimension she had not known as a 19-year-old woman in 2005.

After weeks of missed moments, doubts, and fears, there was a beautiful synchronicity in their shared path forward. It was unstated yet understood. It was only when the band stopped to take a break that the spell of their symphony was broken. The pair shared a chaste kiss before Bette gripped her lover’s hand and led them away to retrieve their coats.

When they arrived back at their hotel, Bette exited the vehicle first, holding out her hand for the love of her life. Tina looked up into her adoring eyes and gave a gentle, tentative smile. Walking through the lobby and to the elevator, the blonde could feel Bette’s hand on her lower back, gently guiding her along the way.

Standing in front of their room, Tina turned to open her purse in pursuit of a room key. No sooner had she begun to search than Bette held up one of the flat, white plastic cards. Wordlessly, she handed it to Tina and stood behind her, waiting as the door was opened.

The scent of jasmine rolled out from the candle-lit room. The flames seemed to dance in the darkness, heralding the arrival of the lovers. Tina froze in the doorway, her eyes roaming the expanse of their temporary space, surprised at the care and beauty that was before her. The soft glow was soothing, yet powerful enough for her to see that their bed had been turned down, the cotton sheets replaced with black satin. A rectangular teal box with white ribbons lay atop the black satin. Beside the bed was a table with a tray of fruits, veggies, and cheeses. And where there had once been an English tea set, there was now a tiny Christmas tree. It was adorned with little red and green lights, standing proudly despite its diminutive size.