Cat couldn’t be more anxious. Her senses are in overload as they stand shoulder to shoulder in the elevator. If Sam says anything, there is no way Cat would hear it; the blood is roaring through her ears. Her eyes continue to dart to the sides and she’s certain her breathing is coming out in ragged uneven rhythms. It’s torture, pure and simple.

She almost wishes for elevator music, just so the silence could be drowned out.

The elevator doors open and a release of fresh air hits them both. Cat is off like a shot into the corridor, a nervous trail of energy streaming behind her. Sam suppresses a smile. The only woman Sam knows that can crack her stoicism doesn’t even know herself. She lopes after Cat, hoping she’d slowed down, purely out of her own selfishness than Cat’s safety. The sooner she finds her phone, the sooner she…

Sam sighs.

Cat has already reached the doorway of Frankie’s room. She gazes in before entering. Frankie is still out of it, sunlight gently touching the side of the bed frame. Cat peers closer at the bed. There, she sees her phone wedged into the folds of the bedspread near Frankie’s feet. Cat races in, gathers her phone up and with a quick look at its screen, delicately slides it back into her coat pocket.

She pauses for a minute, staring at the ground. All of this has brought them here… Every little action and choice they’ve made has each had an impact. A tiny peep at the sleeping Frankie brings a sly smile to her lips. And without even looking, for the first time since she’s known her, Cat could tell that Sam entered the room.

Cat doesn’t need to swallow. Her legs aren’t wobbling. Her fingers aren’t fiddling. She stands upright; her eyes are fixed and immovable. She’s not anxious anymore.

Cat’s eyes lock onto Sam’s. “I fucked up-”

Sam takes a step. “Cat, I-”

“Shut up and let me finish.”

Sam freezes on the spot.

Cat continues, her voice steady, her gaze holding upon the woman in front of her. She is able to talk without a flurry of words or incessant speed.

“I fucked up. I lied. I went out of my way to hide things from you. I could’ve taken steps to avoid what I did but still, I chose to do it. I chose to do it.”

As she repeats the last sentence, her shoulders begin to sag. The tiniest creak is heard in her words. Cat knows she hasn’t got much time. She resumes her matter-of-fact stance, avoiding the emotion in the words.

“I fucked up.She musters her courage, not to say the words but to remain standing as she says them. The truth is a lot harder to deal with than the lies.

“I lied to you. But I love you.” The more she gives voice to it, the stronger Cat feels.

“Sam, I love you. You are the only one I could ever want. You are the only one I dream about.” Her voice is getting louder now, demanding attention, almost aggressive. “I may have fucked it up but I’m not gonna let you go now, not when we’re so close.”

Sam hasn’t blinked this whole time. The anxious uptight girl she knew has been replaced by this assertive dominating woman. Sam’s head is spinning.

“Tell me.” Cat orders.

Sam is shaking her head. “Tell you what?”

“Tell me you love me. Or you don’t love me. Either way, tell me now.”

“It’s not that easy-”

“Oh believe me Sarge, it is that easy. Everything else will come and go. Everything else is fixable. Without the foundations, the structure will fall.” It’s like she’s quoting some text from one of her architectural books. “It’s that simple.”

Sam’s head clears. She looks up at the woman who causes her so much pain and joy all in one day. Cat’s right. The answer is that simple. The next words out of her own mouth are like honey on her tongue.

“I haven’t stopped loving you, Cat.”

Sam expected Cat to drop the macho act upon hearing her admission. She thought Cat would finally break down, sobbing for her forgiveness.

Cat however hasn’t batted an eyelid.

“Shut the door.”