Tina nodded as she tried to wrap her mind around the wheels
that had been set in motion in the space of a few minutes. Suddenly she felt
more alone than ever. Bette’s hands came to rest on her shoulders, closing her
eyes, Tina soaked up the comfort she found in the simple gesture.

“I know this is hard for you.” Bette said quietly as she
squeezed Tina’s shoulders gently, “Thank-you”

Standing up, Tina searched the brunette’s face trying to
find a sense of clarity that had been absent for months. “Bette.” The word was
a plea, Tina struggled to understand it herself and was certain she didn’t have
the means to express the divergent feelings she had for her wife, for herself,
for them. “I need…” Tina’s brow knit together as she faltered. What did she
need?

Tina reached out and touched Bette’s cheek. All the memories
of the life they’d shared for so many years made the gesture very familiar but
Tina was caught somewhere in between the past and present. Leaning in she kissed
her wife for the first time in what felt like forever.

Bette revelled in the kiss, one of so many intimacies that
had become so glaringly absent between them. As Tina withdrew, the tears
staining her face became apparent to her partner.

“Tell me.” Bette whispered as she held Tina’s face in her
hands and gently wiped the tears away with her thumbs.

“Make me feel.” Like I did in those photos, like I’m
desirable, like I’m safe, like I’m worthy, like I’m lovable.

Bette’s heart stopped in her chest at the sound of her
wife’s broken voice. Fighting back her own tears, Bette kissed her wife tenderly.

Tina had withdrawn physically long ago, Bette couldn’t
remember the last time Tina had reached for her hand let alone the last kiss
they’d shared. Deep down she suspected this was about Tina trying to find
herself rather than any act of true intimacy between them. At this point Bette
would crawl over broken glass if she thought it would help her wife find a path
out of this emotional hell. If Tina wanted them to make love then Bette wasn’t
going to deny the woman she had adored for so many years, even if the
motivation behind it may be imperfect.   

Searching her wife’s eyes, Bette found a determination where
for months there had been only emptiness. For the first time Tina was showing
signs that she was done being a victim of circumstance. Bette, allowed herself
to hope that a corner had been turned, that this was the beginning of Tina’s
journey home.

“I love you so much, T” She whispered before offering her
hand to the blonde who laced her fingers between Bette’s own without the slightest
hesitation. With that, the only thing left to do was lead her emotionally
exhausted partner to their bedroom. To substantiate her declaration with
actions that would surely remove any remnants of doubt as to how loved Tina
Kennard was.