Sejal – It’s nice to know that someone from Africa is reading my story…. might actually be moving to S.A as things at home aint too good! ;)

flowergrl, Veronica, lind – Thank you so much for reading and commenting and hope you continue to enjoy

gina – thanx for commenting and I think Vic Falls is great too! :)

Mates & JBurHOT – thank you so much for your comments and for sticking with me and reading my story. Your comments always make me smile and I really appreciate them…. thank you!! =0)

Jwet – if you don’t mind me asking what do you do for a living…. it’s just that not many people know about what it’s like in Africa and I was just curious? Thank you so much for reading and commenting, it really means a lot!! ;)

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Bette and Tina had been enjoying their time in Zim, although Bette still found it hard to come to terms with the poverty around her she was also blown away by the beauty of some of the things she saw. It was evident how much passion Tina felt for her country, you could see it in her eyes, they sparkled when she would describe the sights and sounds of Harare to Bette. She was in her eliment and nothing could dampen this experience they were sharing together, not even the law against their relationship.

Bette had a lot of time to get to know Tina’s second family as more often than not Tina had left her at home while she was out and about. Bette was beginning to get a little exasperated but Tina assured her that it would be worth it and so Bette contented herself with relaxing by the pool and trying to enjoy herself without the woman she loved by her side.

Tina on the other hand was calling in every favour she could and was putting her own aquired skills to use. Bette had said how she would have loved to see Tina dance and Tina was working her ***** off trying to give Bette what she wanted. Her suprise for Bette was bringing back so many memories, both good and bad. She was remembering all the shows she had performed in and all the friends she had made and lost. She found herself becoming immersed in the nostalgia of the theatre and everything that surrounds it. It was both amazing and scary and Tina wasn’t sure if she could pull it off in the time she had alloted herself but come ***** or high water she would give it her all.

The time had come and it was now or never, today was all about Bette and Tina couldn’t wait to get it over with. What she was about to do was one of the things that scared her the most, it brought back so many insecurites but at the same time an emmense sense of excitement. All she had to do now was make sure that the day went smoothly and that Kuzi got Bette to the theatre on time. She looked over at Bette who was sleeping soundly, the most adorable smile on her face. She looked contented and Tina almost didn’t want to wake her from her slumber but she had big plans for today and had to get the ball rolling. She leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on Bette’s lips as she whispered….

“Babe, it’s time to get up. Rise and Shine sleepy head”

“Mmmm T, just a little longer please?”

“Nope, I’ve got big plans for today so up you get”

Half an hour later the girls were finally out the door and on their way to their first port of call. Tina had decided to take Bette to a place called Chapungu Village, it was a little shoping village that housed a lot of the Zimbabwean art talent. There were sculptures made out of wood, stone and wire in fact almost anything that you could mould into a decernable shape. The artwork was also something to behold, the tribal watercolours or the pastel scenes of a market or bus stop. They were a collection of vibrant colours and a mixture of emotions were evoked when viewing them. Tina always assumed that the colours were so bright because the artists saw it as a way of masking the pain and despair behind the images, a way of blinding the uneducated observer to the truth of the image.

Once they arrived, Bette was blown away by what she saw. It was different to the art she observed on a daily basis, there was such a mixture and variety of techniques which were linked by the same theme…. depicting the country that was housed in their soul and that gave them life. It was a morning full of the things she loved, art and Tina. They spent the morning in each others company, occasionally holding hands or exchanging chaste hugs and then Tina said she had to leave and that Kuzi would be here any second to spend the afternoon with Bette. Needless to say Bette was not that happy about the arrangements but Tina assured her once again it would be worth it and everything would become clear that evening.
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That evening:-

Bette was in for a one time only experience, a first for both her and Tina. Tina would be performing her first solo in front of the woman she loved and this would be the first time Bette had actually seen Tina dance. She was brought to the theatre where Tina told her she had first performed, the theatre which contained a large part of Tina’s history. She had no idea what was going on and was placed in the exact centre of the auditorium in complete darkness. It was then that she heard the voice of the woman she loved coming over the speakers in a whisper….

I never thought I would find happiness,
And that love was just out of my reach. (the curtain opens and reveals a figure standing centre stage)
I once tried to reach for the stars but ended up with air.
Until you. (The figure begins to dance, semmingly like a shadow on the stage)

I was incomplete,
And a lost soul seeking that which I could not find. (Bette is mesmerized by the dancer on stage, transfixed by the fluid lines of her movement)
I lost my voice and drowned out my own cries.
Wanting to loose myself.
Until you.

There was no colour,
No light,
I was lost in shades of grey and black,
Trying to find my way.
Until you.

Now I see with new eyes, (A soft lighting illuminates the entire stage and for the first time Bette sees it was Tina)
And sing with a new voice.
There are colours surrounding me,
Envelopping me.
Because of you. (Tina is dancing with her eyes closed, lost in the dance she had created for Bette, forgetting the pain as her love for Bette and for dance takes over. Her movements fluid and graceful, an inner strength hidden beneath the softness of her movements)

Now I no longer search,
And there is no star that I cannot reach. (At this point Tina takes off into the air, suspended by wires and creating an arial dance which is symbolic of how she feels when she is with Bette. Bette is in awe, Tina had never looked so beautiful.)
I am complete and no longer lost.
Because of you.

Now I have found the love of my life,
And have found the one thing I cannot live without.
I have found you. (Bette has silent tears falling, the beauty of what she had just witnessed and the happiness she felt was beyond compare. She just sat there taking in the sight of the woman she loved)

Tina had come back to reality, she had lost herself in memories of Bette as she was dancing, wanting to show her how much she loved her the only way she knew how. Words seemed to escape her when she was with Bette, articulating her thoughts became impossible and so she put her words to movement. At the end she had collapsed on to her knees, exhausted and spent, now that she was still she could feel all the pain that she had forgotten while dancing and her breathing was ragged. She had forgotten how exhausting it was, how fulfilling and exciting…. it was then she remembered Bette was in the audience and was silent, her concern overiding all other things as she slowly made her way off the stage and towards Bette. Kneeling down by her side she placed a hand on Bette’s shoulder….

“Bette, baby are you ok?”

“T…. I…. that was beautiful”

Tina blushes slightly, she could never take a compliment very well, especially when it came to dance.

“It was all for you, everything I do is for you”

“T, I don’t deserve you you know?” Bette said as she leans down and gently kisses Tina’s lips.





Sorry this isn’t very good but thank you for reading!