I used to watch her sleep.

So peaceful in the stillness.

So quiet in her life.

I used to watch her sleep and imagine her being taken away.  Spirited by the shadows out the door and into the car.

Driving away never to be seen again.

I’d chase them to the door, hoping to catch them.  Crying, begging for them to leave my girl, or to just end it…

The shadow would always turn, and it would laugh and tell me that she isn’t my girl, she never really was, before they’d run out of the house – blonde hair and fair skin against brown and black.

I used to watch her sleep knowing my wife would take her from me.  Trying to convince myself I didn’t care.

I never used to sleep; I couldn’t bare to have her gone.

She could taste the salt on the air, a bitter and sweetness that stuck at the back of her mouth making her thirsty.  She took a sip of her sweet tea and laid her head back on the sofa, breathing to air while listening to draws slam closed in the next room.

In all her life Bette had never known someone who could pack a bag, for 2 days, and make so much noise.  Apparently this talent is one of the many strange ones her current roommate had.  It was weird, the last time she had a roommate was in college and that lasted about a week.  Bette Porter doesn’t play nice with other peoples rules – or their messes.  Yet here she was, and she felt – comfortable.  Comfortable was good.

Burrowing further into the leather Bette sighs, as much as she loves staying here the people Bette really wants to share a house with are – somewhere away from her.  Some company is better then none Bette suspects, so is glad for it, but it doesn’t mean she wont wish, hope and mourn for all that she has lost.

Helena finishes packing her bag by stuffing a pair of jeans into her over full carry-on.  “Done” she announces to the empty room before she heads through to the living room.  She stops at the doorway when she sees that Bette is sleeping, and quietly walks to the coffee table in front of the lounge, perching herself on the edge.