A hint of progress
Vi was sitting at the table, meticulously working on fixing the broken frames of the pictures Caitlyn had shattered. Each piece of wood was carefully handled, as Vi wanted to restore the memories these photos held. Just as she was about to finish one of the frames, Caitlyn entered the room with an expression that was a mix of anger and frustration.
“What are you doing?” Caitlyn asked, her tone harsh and accusatory.
“Well, I thought it was a good idea to fix them,” Vi replied, trying to keep her tone calm and measured.
“Lanes, why do you think I broke those pictures?” Caitlyn shot back, her voice rising.
Vi put the photo down, taking a deep breath to steady herself.
“It was because I’m done with this! I don’t want to see those photos and remember the life I had before!” Caitlyn exclaimed, her voice filled with a raw intensity.
Something inside Vi snapped. This was too much to bear. She stood up, her frustration boiling over. "You know what, Caitlyn? I understand your frustration, but you don’t have to treat me like this. Why do you treat me this way? I haven’t done anything bad to you!"
“Then leave,” said Caitlyn, her voice icy and dismissive.
Vi’s gaze locked on Caitlyn, her eyes wide with disbelief, almost pleading. Her heart slammed against her ribcage as if trying to break free. “You know,” she began, her voice shaking like a taut wire about to snap, “there’s something called necessity, Caitlyn.” Her words dripped with a mixture of bitterness. “Not all of us had the privilege of being born in a fucking palace!” She spat the words, the sharp edge of her anger cutting through the air.
Her chest heaved as she fought to keep her composure, her throat tight with unspoken frustration. “Some of us—” she choked slightly, her voice cracking under the weight of her emotions, “Some of us have to fight, claw, and bleed just to get by. Do you even understand that? Do you even want to?” There was a raw vulnerability in her outburst, as if she was laying her very soul bare, daring Caitlyn to truly see her.
Caitlyn's eyes flickered with something unreadable, but she remained silent.
“And no, I won’t leave because guess what, your mother hired me, not you.” Vi’s voice grew stronger, more resolute. “So unless she fires me, you’re stuck with me. Whether you like it or not.”
Caitlyn’s expression softened, a hint of vulnerability breaking through her cold exterior. She looked away. Without another word, she turned her chair around and started to leave the room. “Just put them in the drawer,” she said quietly, her voice devoid of its earlier anger, now tinged with an undercurrent of something unspoken.
Vi stood there, her chest heaving, the weight of the confrontation settling heavily around her. She watched Caitlyn's retreating figure, a mix of defiance and sadness churning within her.
Vi took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. She carefully placed the fixed photos in a drawer, as Caitlyn had requested, and sat back down at the table. Her mind raced with thoughts of how to bridge the gap between them. She knew that Caitlyn was lashing out because of her own pain, but it didn’t mean she had to take off on her.
That same evening, Vi entered Caitlyn’s room, her mind still lingering on their earlier confrontation. Caitlyn was looking out the window, the evening light casting long shadows across the room. “Jayce called,” Vi said, breaking the silence. “He can’t come today. Do you need something?”
Caitlyn turned her head slightly, her expression thoughtful. “Macbeth,” she said.
“What?” Vi asked, a bit confused.
“I want to watch The Tragedy of Macbeth,” Caitlyn clarified, her voice carrying a hint of longing.
Vi nodded and closed the door behind her. “Open that closet by the TV. There’s a lot of movies and plays. Look for Macbeth,” Caitlyn instructed.
Vi did as she was told, opening the closet and sifting through the neatly organized collection of films and plays. She finally found the DVD of Macbeth and put it into the player. As the play started, Vi began to leave the room, thinking her job was done.
But Caitlyn’s voice stopped her in her tracks. “No, don’t leave. Watch it with me,” Caitlyn said, her tone soft yet insistent.
Vi turned around to face her. “Oh, um, I don’t like those type of plays,” she admitted, feeling a bit awkward.
“What do you mean, ‘those type of plays’?” Caitlyn asked, her curiosity piqued.
“You know, the ones where the language is difficult to understand,” Vi explained, trying to be honest.
“If you don’t understand something, you can ask me,” Caitlyn offered.
“Oh, in that case, I’ll stay,” Vi said, feeling a bit more at ease. She pulled up a chair and sat down next to Caitlyn.
As the play unfolded on the screen, the room filled with the rich, poetic language of Shakespeare. Vi found herself drawn into the story, despite her initial reluctance.
Vi was surprised by how much she enjoyed the experience. She found herself asking questions, and Caitlyn patiently answered each one, providing insights into the characters and the plot. It was a side of Caitlyn that Vi hadn’t seen before—a glimpse of the intelligence and depth that lay beneath her hardened exterior.
Once the play ended, the room was filled with a comfortable silence, the weight of the story lingering in the air. Caitlyn turned to Vi, her expression curious. “So, did you like it?” she asked, her voice soft.
“Oh, I really did. I wasn’t expecting that ending though,” Vi replied, her eyes wide with the impact of the play’s conclusion.
“Well, I’m glad you liked it,” Caitlyn said with a small smile. That smile, however brief, sent a warm feeling through Vi’s chest. It was a rare and precious moment of connection, a sign of progress that Vi had been longing for.
“She’s smiling. I’ve made progress,” Vi thought.
Caitlyn glanced at the clock and then back at Vi. “Well, I think it’s time you should head home. It’s getting late,” she said, her tone gentle but firm.
“Yeah, you’re right. I’ll see you tomorrow then,” Vi replied, standing up from her chair and stretching slightly.
“See you tomorrow, Violet,” Caitlyn said, her voice carrying a note of warmth that hadn’t been there before.
Vi gathered her things, her heart lightened by the small but significant breakthrough. As she walked towards the door, she glanced back at Caitlyn, who was still sitting by the window, lost in thought. Vi smiled to herself.
That night, Vi headed to bed, her mind racing with the events of the evening. She tried to close her eyes and find some rest, but sleep eluded her. Instead, a single thought kept replaying in her mind: “She smiled.”
Caitlyn’s small but genuine smile had been a breakthrough, a sign that Vi was finally making progress. It was a moment that had warmed her heart and filled her with a sense of accomplishment. Vi couldn’t help but replay the scene in her mind, over and over, each time feeling a surge of happiness. “She has a tooth gap.” She thought.
“And she called me by my name, not my last name,” Vi mused, the realization bringing another wave of joy. Caitlyn had always referred to her as “Lanes,” a formality that had created a barrier between them. But tonight, she had called her “Violet,” a sign of familiarity and a small step towards building a real connection.
Vi’s thoughts swirled with a mix of emotions. She had felt so defeated earlier in the day, but now, she felt a glimmer of optimism.
Finally, as the hours ticked by, Vi felt a sense of calm wash over her. The warmth of Caitlyn’s smile and the sound of her name on Caitlyn’s lips were enough to lull her into a peaceful slumber.
The next morning, Vi arrived earlier than usual at the grand estate, the crisp morning air invigorating her as she approached the house. To her surprise, she found Caitlyn already wide awake, waiting for her with a look of anticipation.
“Good morning,” Caitlyn greeted, her voice carrying a newfound warmth.
“Uh, yes, good morning. Why are you up so early?” Vi asked, her curiosity piqued.
“I was thinking we could go out to the garden. What do you say?” Caitlyn suggested.
Vi felt her cheeks hurt from the big smile that spread across her face. “Yeah, let’s go!” she exclaimed, delighted by Caitlyn’s enthusiasm.
Vi carefully carried Caitlyn to the bathroom and let Nurse Lara change her into more appropriate clothes for the chilly weather outside. Once Caitlyn was dressed warmly, they headed out together, the morning sun casting a golden glow over the estate.
As they made their way down the garden path, Caitlyn glanced at Vi. “How old are you, Violet?” she asked, her curiosity genuine.
“I’m 25,” Vi replied with a smile. “How about you?”
“I’m 28,” Caitlyn answered, a hint of playfulness in her voice.
“Damn, almost 30,” Vi teased.
“Hey!” Caitlyn exclaimed, pretending to be offended. “I’m just kidding,” Vi said with a laugh, her spirits lifted by the lighthearted banter.
As they walked, they talked about various things, from their favorite books to their childhood memories. Vi found herself enjoying Caitlyn’s company more and more, and she could see that Caitlyn was beginning to open up, even if just a little.
Meanwhile, Cassandra was walking around the house, checking on the day’s preparations. As she glanced out the window, she spotted her daughter and Vi outside, walking and talking together. A smile spread across Cassandra’s face, and she felt a surge of hope and happiness. She almost ran to tell her husband about the sight, her heart lightened by the progress she witnessed.
As Vi and Caitlyn continued their walk, the conversation flowed naturally. “You know, this is really nice,” Caitlyn admitted, her tone soft.
“Yeah, it is,” Vi agreed, feeling a sense of contentment.
They reached a bench by a small pond and decided to stay for a while, enjoying the tranquility of the morning. The water shimmered in the sunlight, and the gentle rustling of leaves created a soothing backdrop to their conversation.
Vi saw that Caitlyn’s hand was shivering a bit so she decided to remove her scarf and place it around Caitlyn’s neck.
“What are you doing?” Asked Caitlyn with a bit of surprise on her voice.
Vi didn’t respond and removed gloves and carefully placed them on Caitlyn’s hands.
“It’s too cold” replied back sitting down on the bench with her hands of her pockets.
“As you might know, I can’t feel anything from my neck down but thank you” said Caitlyn in a soft tone.
“So, why didn’t you keep boxing?” Caitlyn asked, her curiosity evident as they sat by the pond.
“Well, my sister got accepted into the Piltover Academy,” Vi explained, her voice tinged with pride.
“Oh, really?” Caitlyn’s eyes widened with interest.
“Yes, she’s the brains of the family,” Vi said with a smile, reminiscing about her sister’s achievements. “And, well, that academy, as you might know, is expensive. So I had to start working to pay for it.”
Caitlyn’s expression softened with understanding. “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that, Violet.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Vi replied, her tone reassuring. “With this job, I’m able to pay for it.” She picked up a small rock and tossed it into the pond, watching the ripples spread across the water.
There was a moment of silence as they both reflected on the conversation. Caitlyn glanced at Vi, a thoughtful look on her face. “It sounds like you’ve made a lot of sacrifices for your sister. That’s really admirable.”
Vi shrugged, though her heart warmed at Caitlyn’s words. “Family means a lot to me. Powder deserves every opportunity she can get, and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to support her.”
Caitlyn nodded, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. “I understand that. Family is important.”
Caitlyn looked at Vi trying to find the words to speak to her. She took a deep breath and began “Hey, so… I want to apologize for what happened yesterday,” she began, her voice quiet but sincere. There was a flicker of hesitation in her eyes, like she wasn’t sure where to start or if she even deserved forgiveness.
Vi looked up from where she was sitting, her brow furrowing slightly. “Don’t worry, Caitlyn. I understand,” she replied, her tone gentle. But there was an edge of concern beneath her words, as if she knew there was more Caitlyn wasn’t saying.
Caitlyn bit her lip, exhaling deeply as if trying to push out all the tension that had built up inside her. “Still,” she pressed on, her voice faltering for a moment, “I shouldn’t have said anything. You were just trying to help, and I… I lashed out at you. That wasn’t fair.”
Vi leaned forward slightly, her eyes softening. “Look, you don’t have to beat yourself up about it. I know you’re dealing with a lot,” she said, her voice steady, a quiet reassurance woven into her words. “But if there’s something on your mind, you can talk to me. I’m here, Cait.”
Caitlyn hesitated again, her fingers clenching into fists before releasing, as though she were grappling with invisible chains. “The reason I don’t want to see those photos,” she began, her voice breaking just enough to betray the raw emotions she usually kept buried, “is because… because I know I’ll never be that person again.” She laughed softly, a hollow sound that carried more pain than humor. “I can’t go back to my normal life. That version of me… she’s gone. And seeing those pictures just makes it worse.”
Vi’s expression grew somber, her jaw tightening as she listened. She could see the cracks in Caitlyn’s carefully constructed facade, and it hurt in a way she hadn’t expected. “Caitlyn…” she started, but Caitlyn cut her off by shaking her head.
“And Maddie and Morgana’s visit,” Caitlyn continued, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, “it was like they brought all those memories crashing back. The life I had, the one I thought I’d always have… it’s gone. And seeing them, hearing about their perfect little lives, it just reminded me that I’ll never get that back. No matter how much I want to.” She laughed again, shaking her head. “God, listen to me. I must sound pathetic.”
“You don’t sound pathetic,” Vi said firmly, her voice taking on a tone of conviction. She reached out, her fingers brushing against Caitlyn’s in a gesture that was small but brimming with understanding. “You sound like someone who’s been through hell and is still standing. Don’t sell yourself short, Caitlyn. You’re a lot stronger than you give yourself credit for.”
For a moment, Caitlyn didn’t respond. She simply looked at Vi, her walls lowering just enough for a flicker of gratitude to shine through. “Thanks,” she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t say this often, but… it means a lot. You mean a lot.”
Vi’s lips curved into the faintest of smiles, her hand lingering just a moment longer before pulling back. “Always here, remember?” she said softly, the words carrying a warmth that made Caitlyn’s chest ache—not with pain, but with something that felt almost like hope.
As they continued to sit by the pond, the morning sun casting a warm glow over the scene, Caitlyn broke the silence. “Jayce is almost here. Shall we head back?”
Vi nodded,“Yeah, let’s go,” she said, standing up and helping Caitlyn maneuver her wheelchair.
As they approached the house, Vi noticed Cassandra watching them from a distance, a smile of approval on her face. She could tell that Cassandra was pleased with the progress they were making.