She opened up about her insecurities. About how much they loved but wondering if it was enough. She told me how she felt when her attacker had been jailed and that was when she finally decided that she would be able to live. How exhausted she had been from the grief her inability to stop crying from when she woke up. Her sorrow at taking all she had but never having the ability to give the support in return to her wife.

She explained about her brief affair and her reasons for allowing Andy hers. She talked and I listened, for hours she talked. When she had finally finished I looked at her anew, on first glance you would think that she was the weaker half but as she sat there I saw a quiet strength and determination. She glowed from within after all she had been through she radiated hope and love. I believed that her experiences had made her proud. Proud that she survived, proud that she had come back to make a mark on the world, proud that she had seen the good and not let the bad overtake her.

———-Bette———

I had stayed away from them as they talked, it was as if in an unspoken way Rachel had become Tina’s and Andy was mine. So I let them have some space, let Rachel talk, and it seemed to make all the difference. I couldn’t explain it but it was as if she was more present than when I had first met her. She seemed calm and still, assured of what was to come. I felt myself pray that Andy was somewhere finding the same kind of peace. It was obvious that they would never be the same but if Rachel could find a way to survive and come back as a stronger person I hoped that Andy would have the same ability. I for one knew that she had a tough road ahead, it is hard to be the strong one, the one who Is always in control with all the answers, to then have to let that go to rebuild and redefine.

The streets of L.A. Wednesday night:

———-Andy———-

It was the most amazing thing, for the first time since my phone had rung on the night of the attack I could see colour. My world had been dull since then but tonight parts of it had come back to life. I had let go of my fear let people in to hear the worst and had survived.