Vignettes of the Heart 

Tina sat in what used to be the house of her dreams and wiped the tears from her cheeks. She had just sent the woman she loved, had always loved, to win back another woman. When Bette kissed her goodbye, as she had done hundreds of time over the years, as if the habit had never been broken, Tina found herself reaching to hold on to the moment. She caught her hand just in time, if not her heart.  

Tina sat in the shadows, arms wrapped around her knees, gazing out across the waves. She gave Bette the words to get Jodie back, but she meant every word for herself. She did regret ever letting Bette go, and she would make a fool of herself to get her back. But she knew it was right to allow Bette to go after Jodie. She needed to play this relationship out. She needed to learn what she needed to from Jodie, things Tina could not teach her. Jodie was Bette’s equal in every way, but was not her match. That was Tina. She knew that in her bones, and clung to that truth with all her might. It sustained her and gave her hope.  

She had tried to quiet the pain by kissing Kate, but it didn’t work. All Tina could think of was Bette’s voice, of that last kiss, of her eyes as they said goodbye. So she sent Kate away and found a quiet piece of beach to be alone with her thoughts. And now she could do nothing but feel. No coherent thoughts would coalesce; emotions left no room.   Tina dropped her forehead to her knees and allowed her tears to soak into the denim of her jeans