The sleeping form on the couch hadn’t stirred in over an hour but Brooke knew that Sam’s pain medication took a lot out of her. She’d spent most of her time in the past week since the accident sleeping and Brooke spent her time standing guard over the girl she loved so desperately. The fact that she could have lost Sam in that accident was crystal clear to her and unbelievably frightening. (Life without Sam? Not possible, it wouldn’t be a life, it’d be a half-life. Existing without living) Brooke thought to herself.

The accident had been a real shock to her system. She’d meant what she’d said to Sam in the hospital. Yes, she knew she loved Sam but until faced with the prospect of losing her, Brooke didn’t realize how much. And she thought about that argument they had about her fears of being found out, about being `outed’. It seemed so petty now, foolish. How could she want to hide what she and Sam had? It was nothing to be ashamed of, and she wasn’t. Sam was right though. She was letting her fear run her life and if Sam had died, no one would have known the truth. Brooke didn’t want to live with that.

But she didn’t know how tell their parents. Ultimately, telling them that she was gay probably wouldn’t be that bad. Both Mike and Jane were understanding people and once the shock wore off they’d most likely accept her. But adding to that that Sam was gay too would knock them off their feet. And the final blow, that they were in love with each other, well, their heads would probably explode. Brooke knew neither would take it well. How could they? This was their family, mixed as it was, and hearing that their two stepdaughters were in love would push anyone to their breaking point. Brooke shuttered to think what their parents would do upon finding out. Whatever it was, it wouldn’t be pretty.

Brooke jumped when the doorbell rang but wasn’t surprised to find Nicole and Lily standing on the other side. The past week had been hard for them too. Lily’s mother Maria was not adjusting well at all to her daughter being gay and in love with the daughter of one of the richest and most prominent families in town. While she hadn’t thrown Lily out of the house, she wasn’t speaking to her and as far as she was concerned, Lily didn’t exist. It was a hard time all around.