It seemed like it took forever for Betty to get home tonight. After leaving Charlie and Henry, she had walked as far as it was safe before boarding a subway home. And, then, once she was in her familiar neighborhood she had taken her time walking home. She stopped at the park near her old high school and sat on the swings for a few minutes, in the dark. Her mind was going a mile a minute.
She was changing. Everyone grew up and their lives moved forward. As she gained new experiences, she wanted more new experiences. Her dreams are really what caused her and Walter to drift apart, they just weren't going in the same direction.
She had been with Walter for so long and for so long it had seemed so perfect, so normal, even routine. But, then her routine had changed and she had met Henry. As her boundaries expanded, she was meeting new people and feeling new things. She hadn't really even understood what was happening until it was too late. He was another example of how her life changed.
And, in the end, it didn't have to be about Henry. Walter had known that things were changing. He had cheated on her with Gina, of all people. What had been perfect, normal and routine in their lives was now not enough, not for either of them. So, they didn't love each other anymore, not like that and it was over between them.
Betty left the park and headed the rest of the way home. Her heart was broken and she was exhausted. When she got home she managed to hang up her coat before anyone noticed she had come in. Her dad came in from the kitchen.
"Betty, I thought you were going to some VIP party."
'I was dad. It just didn't work out. I'm really tired and I am just going to go up and go to bed."
He could see more in her eyes and her face but she finally looked at him with a smile, however weak, and he decided to talk to her more tomorrow.
"Alright, you go on up. Sweet dreams."
If only.
"Thanks, Dad. See you in the morning."
"Don't forget, we have that community rummage sale thing tomorrow. Hilda is counting on you."
She smiled again weakly.
"I know, I'll be there."
She might as well. The weekend was going to be long enough as it was. It might help her get her mind off things.
She slowly made her way upstairs, changed for bed and snuggled deep beneath the covers. She prayed to fall asleep quickly, with no dreams. Sadly, sleep was not in her immediate future.
She lay awake thinking of the week. The day before, she had gone to work with a bounce in her step. She was going to tell Henry that she had broken up with Walter so maybe they could have a real date like he had suggested when he asked her to see Wicked.
Instead, he gave her the news she had not expected. His girlfriend was in town and he would not be able to go to Wicked after all, suggesting that she and Walter should go instead.
Girlfriend ? Again, she had wished for someone to talk to. Christine had been busy. But, she met Charlie.
And, the thing was, she liked her, really liked her. It seemed like she had met someone that she could actually be friends with and after Henry had told her his girlfriend was in town right after bowing out of their night out to see Wicked, she had needed a friend.
But, nothing could have prepared her for what happened next.
Betty and Charlie in the lunch room earlier that day.
Henry : Charlie ?
Charlie : Henry.
Betty : Henry.
Henry : Betty.
Charlie : Heyy…..oh, hi….. hugs Henry
Henry : Wow ! I guess you two already met. Betty, this is my girlfriend, Charlie.
Charlie : waves Hey….. Henry and Charlie hug
Fate was awesome.