“Oh,” She responded, not really knowing how to react to the new information. “Since it came up to nothing in the end, I thought there was no need to stir up more of your negative emotions. Anyway, during that time, I was also confused, going through a nasty custody case with Winnie. I wanted you to have the impression that I’m not to be trifled with, while I don’t really want you to be totally down and out, you know?”

“You were afraid of appearing like a loser to me, weren’t you?” Bette was curious to find out.

Helena confessed awkwardly. “There was a distinct possibility, yes. A part of me wanted to destroy you to prove myself, yet a small voice inside me made me wonder why I was so obsessed with you.”

“So you argued with Franklin against my termination without my knowledge?”

“What I couldn’t stand was you leaving the social circle I was in – and that included the CAC. You were like an enigma to me. I wanted to understand you, to know more about the strange connection you had with my mother. All of my life, I fought to feel loved. My dear mother could not understand children, and thought that the best thing to do to them was to put them in a place far away and hope that they grow up quickly. I was sent away to boarding school when I was 6, and stayed there for 12 years, meeting her only a few times a year; when she came down to collect my awards.” Helena ranted, her voice breaking with emotion as she blinked away the tears that threatened to roll down her face.

Bette avoided the sudden urge to pull Helena into her arms and hug away all of her hurts. What was it about Helena that made me want to take care of her? She wondered. Perhaps I’m feeling vulnerable too. She leaned closer to her companion, placing one arm over her shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

"Helena, I know it sounds weird coming from me, but your mum loves you. In fact, she mentioned you each time I met up with her. She is just… distracted."

“She did?” came the incredulous reply.

“Yup, you can have my word for it.”

On hearing that news, Helena smiled happily, her eyes twinkling under the light of the street lamp. It was then when Bette noticed that Helena’s blue yes turned aquamarine when she was elated. She sat transfixed for an instant, processing the myriad of confusing emotions were churning in her stomach.

Blocking out her feelings, she composed herself, looked at Helena squarely in the face and declared. “I didn’t know that you cared so much about how your mother thought about you.”

“I just couldn’t find anyone I trusted enough to speak to. All of my ex-girlfriends wanted me to be the pillar of strength for them. I was not supposed to show my pain, my emotional side. I guess this probably resulted in me becoming so… unbalanced.” Helena said sincerely from the bottom of her heart, after pausing several seconds.

Bette glanced again at Helena to see if she was being honest. She felt a stab at her heart for being so harsh when she saw a blank expression that masked so much pain. Reaching out her hand for Helena to hold, she spoke in an almost inaudible tone.

“Thank you for trusting me.” The two friends held hands, reveling contentedly in the soft skin of another human being. They leaned close together, not needing to speak, only basking in each other’s presence, as they were no longer were on their guard when they faced one another.