Kim looked at Kerry questioningly, was reassured by the almost imperceptible nod of her head. "Then by all means," she accepted. "One last round and thank god for Chicago’s yellow cab service." She leaned back towards the diminutive form of her ex-lover. "You were saying?"

"Actually you were saying about Kate and the sorority house. But I thought you met after school."

"You know what they say about taking the girl out of the sorority house, but the sorority house out of…"

"Ah… Got it." Kerry waited until Kath had set the drinks in front of them before asking, "Was it always that easy for you?"

It was something they had never discussed. Coming out in any way, shape or form had been a verboten subject during their brief, intense affair. Almost as if those two words were laden with the power to undo all that was between them– ironic, only in the sense that, in the end, they had.

"I had my share of Oh my god what am I doing moments, if that’s what you’re asking."

"Then why was it so hard for you to understand when I had mine?"

Kim’s head snapped back, as if the blow she’d received earlier had revisited her. So like Kerry– who had, no doubt, been waiting these long eight months to ask just this question– to do so without dissemblance or preamble. She considered the question a long moment, fingers wrapping around the familiar comfort of the tumble in her hand but not seeking the distraction of its contents. "Because my moments never…" she hesitated. "You cut my professional legs out from under me in that conference room, Kerry." Holding up a hand to forestall the apology she saw forming on her ex-lover’s lips, she continued. "I know two things about myself. One of those things is that I am a good doctor– and maybe one day I’ll be a great one. The other is that I know who I am sexually– I am gay, Kerry. That day…" She faltered, searching for a way past the blind chasm of pain that still welled deep inside to explain to Kerry the darkest moment she’d ever endured. "You denied both of those things in that conference room. Everything that I was– gone in every word you said that day. Kim, what were you thinking… Dr. Legaspi… Them… It was this…" She reached out a tentative hand, trying to capture the words. "This… litany of condemnation from you, from the woman I had fallen in love with. I was… I was lost, Kerry. And I didn’t know where to go or who to turn to."

"Kim…" Kerry looked at her helplessly, fingers entangling with Kim’s. "I am so…"

"I don’t need your apologies, Kerry. I had those the day it happened." She tightened her grip on the hand clasping hers. "And I don’t think they could be any more sincere than they were that day. I’m not looking for reparations from you."

"Then what are you looking for?"

"I just…" She bit her lip, thinking of other times, other obligations, other paths they were all traveling now. "I guess that remains to be seen."