Across town, Bette and Tina were meeting at the Planet for coffee and a conversation. Bette arose nervously, clutching a dozen pink roses as she saw Tina walk in. She wiped her sweaty hands on her skirt as Tina approached. “I’m so sorry, Tee,” she said, thrusting the roses forward with shaking hands.

Tina eyed her mutely but accepted the flowers and sat down.

“Tina, I mean it. I’m so sorry. I never meant to hurt you. Please-,”

“Why’d you do it? Why’d you ***** her?” Tina asked bluntly.

“I-I…don’t know,” Bette stammered.

Tina looked disgusted and began to stand up, but Bette caught her arm. “Wait, Tina, just listen to me.”

Tina settled back into her seat with a scowl, secretly feeling a tug at her heart as she noticed Bette’s eyes filling with tears.

Bette took a deep breath, wiped a stray tear from her cheek, and began: “Seven years is a long time. In the back of my mind, I felt a little scared, but it was no big deal. Then…Candace came along. I wasn’t even really that attracted to her and I didn’t see anything special about her. She paled in comparison to you, Tee, but…she wanted me. That was it. I’d practically forgotten that I could be found attractive by anyone else, and Candace proved that. She was something new and fun, something I haven’t experienced in awhile. I liked the attention from someone new…feeling special, I guess. It was an ego thing, I suppose. And then…it just happened. I knew it was wrong, but I didn’t anyway. I immediately regretted it, and almost forgot it wasn’t with you. All I could think of was you, and I told Candace to never speak to me again. I’m so sorry that I hurt you, Tee. That’s the last thing I ever wanted to do. All I want is to die right now because hurting you hurts me so badly.” She buried her face in her hands and sobbed, her shoulders shaking.

Tina stared at her with conflicting emotions. That was no reason to forgive anyone, but this was Bette. After all, they’d had seven years together. Tina glanced down at the gold band on her left hand and sighed, placing her hand gently on Bette’s shoulder. Bette looked up at her with a tear-stained face.

“Okay, Bette, here’s the deal. You’re not exactly forgiven, nor are we any longer at the point where we once were. I’m willing to give this a try, though,” she bit her lip and continued on. “I’ll move back in, but I’m staying in the guest bedroom. And we’re going to therapy, both of us. Then we’ll see what happens from there.”

Bette looked up at her, looking hopeful, and burst into tears again. Tina held her hand as she also felt the tears begin to slide down her cheeks.