Once she looks away again, Tina turns briefly to eye her wife. The pain is evident in Bette’s face, and Tina musters up the courage to be honest with Bette. After seven years, this should be easier.

Tina shakes her head slightly and re-focuses on the ceiling. She wipes her mouth with the back of her left hand, her commitment ring softly grazing against her lips. A deep breath is dragged in as the same hand goes to hold the side of her head. The breath is let out forcefully before she speaks. “I, uh-” Her brow furrows. “-get this feeling from you,” A small smile becomes evident in Tina’s voice “That you’re so proud to be with me.” Bette looks over and perks up a little, shifting slightly onto her side to get a better view of her wife. She reaches her right hand over, lovingly stroking Tina’s belly over her shirt. There’s a hopefulness in Tina’s voice. “And it makes me feel really safe and loved. It’s great.” Their fingertips meet and gently caress, but Tina still hasn’t made eye contact with Bette, who has a small smile on her lips. “But, lately I-I haven’t been feeling it.” Tina continues, the inflection in her voice taking a turn. Bette is almost stunned at this new revelation and pulls her hand back, showcasing exactly what Tina is talking about in an instant. The blonde notices Bette’s recoil and finds the strength to power through the truth while still staring at the ceiling, knowing that if she looks into those pained brown eyes right now, she will lose what little composure she’s been hanging on to. “So I’ve just been, uh, trying to concentrate on myself. And, uh, trying not to get scared about it.” But in her peripheral vision, she sees that Bette has now turned her body away from her again. She raises her hand to her head again, ready to wipe away any tears that are threatening to spill over.

Bette turns back to the mother of her child and doesn’t know what to say or how to react. The silence is maddening for both of them, and Bette feels the urge to flee before the tension chokes her into a panic attack. She sits up abruptly, tears now gathering in her eyes.