Ursula Raines bio

Ursula Raines was born October 19, 1990, to Jacob and Lilly Raines in Huntsville, Alabama. Jacob was a mechanical engineer, and Lilly was a homemaker. Jacob loved James Bond movies and the swimsuit scene in Dr. No provided the namesake for the family's new daughter.

As she grew older, Ursula spent time with her father in his workshop. In the evenings and on weekends, he tinkered with his own versions of James Bond's famous toys. Ursula inherited her father's skill with mechanics, and she won the science fair each year at school.

Life in the Raines house was good, but Ursula always felt like an outsider with other kids. She never seemed to fit in with the girly girls or the boys who shared her interests.

In high school, Ursula focused on academics. She didn't play any sports or join any clubs, and she didn't date. She got straight A's in class and then went home and tinkered with mechanical gizmos in her father's workshop.

After graduation, Ursula attended Vanderbilt University. While everyone assumed she would follow in her father's footsteps and become an engineer, in college, Ursula grew tired of soldering irons and metal frames.

A biology class intrigued her, and she began to see the human body as a mechanical instrument of a different kind. She was fascinated by the way muscles moved and the bones supported the body's structure corresponded to the gadgets she was so familiar with. She decided to pursue a career in physical therapy when she finished her undergraduate degree.

Socially, Ursula initially felt like an outsider in college, just like in high school, but one night while studying, her best female friend kissed her, and Ursula no longer felt so alone. With her loving parents' support, Ursula quickly came out as a lesbian. She began dating her study partner, a biology major from Lexington, Kentucky, named Leigh Burrell.

Ursula and Leigh's relationship was intensely passionate. Having spent so much time alone, Ursula doted on her girlfriend, making sure Leigh always knew how much she loved her. Leigh was smitten by her romantic gestures and words, and she promised Ursula they would always be together.

After graduation, Ursula worked on her master's degree in physical therapy, and Leigh pursued a master's in biology. Over time, the adoration Leigh found so charming began to feel smothering. Whenever she had classes or labs, Ursula would walk her there and then be waiting for her after it was over.

Leigh struggled to work on any group projects because Ursula got so distressed whenever Leigh spent time with others without her. As the couple neared the completion of their degrees, Leigh saw it as a natural point to end the relationship. Ursula was heartbroken.

For a change of scenery to help her move on, Ursula accepted a job with a private physical therapy practice in Oxford, Mississippi. She wanted to work in a town with a major college so she could treat sports injuries in addition to the more routine conditions that require physical therapy.

Shortly after arriving in Oxford, Ursula started a relationship with a young chemistry major. Ursula fell hard for the girl and lavished her with attention just as she had Leigh, but Ursula's intensity frightened the young girl. She broke up with Ursula and changed her phone number, telling friends it was the only way to get any peace.

Ursula hadn't gone out with anyone for about nine months when she met Gretchen Doyle at a political fundraiser. They instantly struck up a relationship and have been dating exclusively for almost a year. Throughout her relationship with Gretchen, Ursula has struggled to control her tendency to overwhelm her girlfriend with her devotion. She vowed early on that she would not allow her intensity to ruin another of her relationships.