“I heard him, I heard him clearly. I hear you too. Marriage.” She laughed again. “Know what that means? That means I have the right to slap down any tramp that tries to take down what’s mine. That’s why I got him to quit. That’s why I made sure HE got out of our lives.”

Minutes passed, Bette stood there silent, Tina the same.

She took a deep breath that she had been holding onto.

It was breaking Bette’s heart every second that Tina stood in front of her crying. She had decided last night that she’d try and live with Tina’s mistake. She loved Tina with everything she was. That’s what fucking sucked she thought. Tina had forgotten about their commitment together. There had been something going on with Tina. All of this wasn’t her Tina.  Inside her head she was fighting something and for her not to open up and share it, had hurt her deeply. This was never going to work if they took the easy way. She wouldn’t forgive herself and she didn’t want Tina living her life with her as if she owed her.

“You’re right, you’re absolutely right.” Bette said she raised her voice making herself loud and clear.

 “You can’t do it anymore? You can’t fucking do it anymore! You know what? I won’t do it anymore. I won’t live like this.” She shook her head again.

With all the strength inside of her she said, “I don’t want this anymore.” She raised a finger pointing it towards herself than at Tina.

Tears began to flow again between the two women. Tina shook, sobbing uncontrollably and this time Bette wouldn’t console her.

“Bette please, please I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. Please, please forgive me…” Tina begged.

“Suppose I give you a second chance. Are you going to tell me the truth? Are you going to tell me what’s wrong? Are you going to tell me why this all happened in the first place? What aren’t you telling me Tina? Tell me, tell me, please. Last chance, however small, tell me now. You know me. I won’t look back.”

Tina had nothing to say. She herself wasn’t even sure of the demons she was dealing with, how could she voice them to her?  Bette couldn’t take the silence any longer. She felt defeated.

“I can’t trust you anymore. I thought I knew you.” She said.

Tina looked up staring into Bette’s eyes. She knew what Bette was going to ask of her. She didn’t need to say it. “Is this what you want? Is this what you really want?” she asked her.

“No Tina, this isn’t what I want. This is what YOU want. You did this to us.”

“But I don’t want—I don’t think I can live without you. Please, Bette. Please.” She said looking at Bette with tears again.

“Tina it’s over. I’m done.”

Bette turned around, grabbed her keys and slammed the door shut. She got into her Saab and drove off. She’d have to pull over soon, the tears clouding her vision, making her unable to drive. Never in her life had she felt pain like this before. She had no one to go to, it had always been Tina.  Tina was supposed to be her forever…

Tbc.

(( Yea? )))