Ceilings

Three days.

It had been three days since Caitlyn made the impulsive decision to leave Nationals, abandoning the chaos of her mother, the press, and the suffocating expectations. Three days since she’d walked away from everything to stay here, in Vi’s little world, a world that felt messy and raw but so achingly real.

The headlines had exploded almost immediately.

“National Champion Caitlyn Kiramman Vanishes Before Award Ceremony!”

“Where Did Caitlyn Kiramman Go?”

“Controversy Erupts as Rising Star Skater Leaves Nationals Early!”

The coverage ranged from speculation about an injury to dramatic theories about a mental breakdown. Caitlyn had done her best to tune it all out. She was still in touch with her dad and her coach, though. Her father had called every day, his voice warm and reassuring, but there was always a hint of worry.

Her coach, Grayson, had been brief but understanding, her usual stoic demeanor softening slightly. “Take the time you need. But don’t let this decision derail you completely. You’re too good for that.”

This morning, the sun filtered softly through the curtains of Vi’s room, casting a warm, golden glow over the space. Caitlyn was still cocooned in blankets, the smell of coffee wafting faintly from downstairs. Vi stirred beside her, mumbling something incoherent as she reached over, brushing Caitlyn’s arm.

“Morning,” Caitlyn said softly, her voice still heavy with sleep.

Vi blinked, her messy pink hair sticking out in every direction. Her groggy expression melted into a lopsided grin as she leaned over and kissed Caitlyn gently on the lips. It was warm and lazy, and Caitlyn felt her heart skip the same way it had the first time.
“Morning, Cupcake,” Vi teased, pulling back just enough to look at her.

Caitlyn blushed, but she couldn’t hide her smile. She had never been a morning person, but waking up like this made it feel bearable. Good, even.

“Come on,” Vi said, sitting up and stretching. “Let’s get some breakfast. I think Mylo tried to cook again, so we might have to do some damage control.”

Caitlyn laughed softly, the sound surprising even herself. She swung her legs over the side of the bed, the oversized sweatpants Vi had loaned her hanging loosely on her hips.

The stairs creaked beneath her feet as she followed Vi down into the chaos of the kitchen. The smell of burnt eggs hit her nose first, and she couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at her lips. Her usual life in Piltover was clean, organized, and predictable, nothing like this. But here, even with the clamor and disorder, it felt... comfortable.

She stepped into the kitchen, immediately met with the sight of Mylo hunched over the stove, desperately flipping something that resembled eggs but didn’t smell much like them. Claggor stood off to the side, arms crossed, watching the spectacle with a barely contained smirk. Vander sat at the table, newspaper in hand, seemingly the only one in the room unaffected by the madness.

"Morning, sunshine," Mylo greeted them, his eyes darting between Vi and Caitlyn. He raised an eyebrow in that mischievous way of his. "Or should I say sunshines? What’d you two get up to last night, huh?"

Caitlyn’s stomach tightened slightly, and she froze for just a moment, caught off guard by the question. She tried to smile, but it came out awkward and unsure. She hadn’t really gotten used to the way Mylo joked around, and the last thing she wanted was to make things uncomfortable.

Vi groaned, shooting Mylo a look that clearly told him to drop it. “Mylo, don’t start.”

Of course, that only seemed to encourage him further. “C’mon,” Mylo said, flipping the eggs (or at least attempting to). “You go upstairs after movie night together, and then come down in the morning looking all happy. You can’t expect me not to ask questions.”

Before Caitlyn could say anything, or start to feel like she might melt into the floor, Claggor slapped Mylo on the back of the head with an exaggerated sigh. “Shut up, Mylo. You’re embarrassing yourself.”

Caitlyn’s face warmed at the teasing, but she tried to ignore it, instead focusing on Vi beside her. The warmth in Vi’s expression was reassuring, the soft way she held Caitlyn’s hand grounding her in the chaos of the moment.

"Good morning," Caitlyn said quietly, offering a small smile.

Vander, who had been watching the exchange from behind his glasses, looked up at her with a warmth in his gaze. “Morning.” His voice was steady and kind, and Caitlyn felt herself relax a little in response. “Sleep well?”

Caitlyn nodded, still not quite used to this informal environment. “Yeah, I did. Thanks.” She gave Vi a quick glance, grateful for the way she was already making her feel so at home here.

As they sat down at the table, the clatter of cereal bowls and spoons filled the air. Caitlyn couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of Mylo’s charred eggs still sitting untouched on the stove. It wasn’t just the fact that they were burnt beyond recognition, it was the way he still seemed so determined to salvage them, flipping them around like they might magically improve.

“I think we’ll be eating cereal today,” Vi said with a teasing grin, pushing the burnt mess aside.

Caitlyn smiled, the warmth of Vi’s presence calming her nerves, even though she was still getting used to everything. Mylo grumbled under his breath but didn’t argue, grabbing the cereal box and pouring a generous amount into their bowls. The simplicity of it was nice. It felt like a normal morning, and Caitlyn had never really experienced one of those before, not without some sort of agenda or pressure looming over her head.

They all sat down together, the conversation slowly shifting from light teasing to something a bit more personal. Vi, her hand still resting lightly on Caitlyn’s, looked over at Vander. “How’s Powder doing?” she asked, her voice soft but laced with concern.

Vander looked up from his newspaper, his face creased in thought. “She’s doing better,” he said, his voice quieter than usual. “She’s been there for a while now, but they’ve been making progress. She’s not out of the woods, but they’re hopeful she’ll be home real soon. It’s just a matter of time.”

Caitlyn nodded, a flicker of empathy in her chest. Powder had been through so much, and it hurt her to think about everything she must have been struggling with. But at least things were looking up for her. Caitlyn couldn’t imagine the weight of the kind of pain that someone like Powder would carry around, but it felt good to know there was hope for her.

Caitlyn pushed a spoonful of cereal into her mouth, taking in the quiet for a moment, until Mylo spoke up, clearly unable to resist. “So, what was it like last night, huh?” he asked, a mischievous gleam in his eye. “You two all cozy in the same room, sharing all kinds of secrets, huh?”

Caitlyn’s face burned with embarrassment, and she immediately froze, her spoon halfway to her mouth. She didn’t want to hear this. Mylo was always like this, joking around, but it still made her uncomfortable, especially when it came to Vi.

Vi sighed heavily, giving Mylo a flat look. “Mylo, seriously,” she muttered under her breath.

But Mylo didn’t let up, grinning even wider as he dug his elbows into the table. “Come on, I’m just asking! You two looked like you were having a good time. All I’m saying is, I didn’t hear any complaints.”

Caitlyn wanted to shrink into the chair, but Vi’s grip on her hand tightened, a reassuring presence that made her feel like everything was going to be okay. Still, she couldn’t help the rush of panic that filled her chest. Mylo’s teasing was uncomfortable, and she just wanted it to stop.

Just as Mylo’s smirk grew wider, Vander looked up from his paper, his tone firm. “Mylo, knock it off,” he said, his voice carrying an authority that made the younger boy flinch. “Don’t be inappropriate.”

Caitlyn looked at Vander, a bit surprised at the reprimand. She wasn’t used to hearing him raise his voice like that. It was like a sudden shift in the atmosphere, one that made the teasing die down instantly. Mylo shrank back slightly, though his mischievous grin didn’t completely disappear.

“Sorry, Vi,” Mylo muttered, looking over at her apologetically.

Vi rolled her eyes but gave him a slight nod, clearly not fazed by the teasing but thankful for the support from her dad. Caitlyn couldn’t help but feel a little more at ease. Mylo wasn’t exactly mean spirited, but he was definitely a lot to handle sometimes.

Vander’s tone softened as he looked back at Caitlyn. “I apologize for Mylo, for the second time.” he said, his gaze kind. “I hope you’re settling in okay.”

Caitlyn nodded quickly, still not entirely used to the laid-back atmosphere, but she could tell that the family dynamic here was one of care, even if it was wrapped in humor and a bit of chaos.

“I’m doing better, thanks,” she said, her voice steady despite the lingering embarrassment.

Vi squeezed her hand under the table, offering Caitlyn a small, understanding smile. Caitlyn squeezed back, grateful that she had Vi beside her to help her navigate this strange new world. It wasn’t perfect, but maybe this was where she was meant to be—for now, at least.

“So,” Mylo said, trying to steer the conversation away from anything too awkward, “who wants to help me figure out why these eggs weren’t cooked right?”

Claggor gave him an exasperated look. “Maybe if you didn’t try to make breakfast at the crack of dawn, Mylo, it wouldn’t be such a disaster.”

Caitlyn chuckled softly at the back and forth between the brothers, feeling herself relax for the first time in days. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a start. The awkwardness was still there, but there was a new kind of comfort in it all. Maybe that was what it felt like to finally let go of all the weight she’d been carrying for so long.

However, she felt the pit in her stomach was growing with each passing minute. The breakfast table, with its laughter and easy banter, had provided a brief escape from the reality that loomed over her. But now, as she stood up from the table and wiped her hands on the cloth napkin, she could feel the weight of what was to come pressing down on her shoulders.

Today was the day she would face her mother.

A part of her had been dreading this moment from the start. There had been a steady knot of fear growing inside her for days, ever since she'd decided to leave the competition and come to Zaun. It wasn’t just the fear of what her mom would say or do. No, it was deeper than that. It was the fear of losing everything she had worked for, the trust of her parents, the approval that had defined so much of her life up until now. And, in a way, the fear of what her mother might take from her. If she was being honest with herself, she was scared she would make her choose. Between the family. And between her and Vi.

She couldn’t lose Vi.

But the thought of returning home, of walking through that door and facing her mom’s disappointment, was almost suffocating. Caitlyn’s breath hitched at the thought. She tried to push it aside, telling herself she had made this decision for a reason. She had to stand up for herself. For what made her happy. She had to prove to herself that she was more than just a puppet for other people’s expectations.

And yet, the uncertainty gnawed at her. What if her mom tried to make her feel small? What if she was left with no choice but to go back to the life she’d known, one where everything had been planned and controlled? Caitlyn couldn’t imagine that life anymore, not after everything that had happened. Not after meeting Vi.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the soft, steady pressure of Vi’s hand on her shoulder. Caitlyn looked up and met her eyes. There was so much unspoken between them in that glance. Vi’s quiet reassurance, her steady presence, and Caitlyn’s own overwhelming sense of gratitude for having her by her side through all of this.

Vi had made everything easier. Vi had been there for her in a way no one else had, even when Caitlyn pushed her away. And now, knowing that Vi would be with her when she faced her parents gave her the courage she needed to push forward. Vi didn’t have to do this. She didn’t have to come with her, didn’t have to endure the tension or the discomfort of Caitlyn’s family. But she was, and that made all the difference. Caitlyn didn’t feel so alone anymore.

"You ready?" Vi asked, her voice low but firm, full of quiet understanding.

Caitlyn hesitated. Her heart was pounding in her chest. But the way Vi was looking at her, with those eyes full of kindness and strength, made the fear a little more bearable. Caitlyn took a deep breath, letting it out slowly, trying to calm her racing thoughts.

"Yeah," she said, her voice quieter than she meant it to be. "I think so."

Vi gave her a gentle smile, a look that told Caitlyn she was right there, and nothing would change that.

As they excused themselves from the table, Caitlyn felt the weight of her decision settle in her chest. It was time to go back. Time to face the consequences. Time to confront her parents and take responsibility for everything she’d done.

The walk to Vi’s truck was quiet, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. There was an understanding between them, a shared recognition of the gravity of what was happening. Vi opened the door for her, and Caitlyn slid into the passenger seat, her hands shaking slightly as she adjusted her seatbelt.

Vi didn’t start the engine right away. Instead, she glanced over at Caitlyn, her eyes soft, but intense with the promise of support. “You sure you want to do this now?” she asked. "We can wait a bit, if you need to."

Caitlyn looked out the window, the familiar sights of Zaun surrounding her, and then she turned to Vi, her expression determined despite the fear still lingering in her chest. “I have to go back. I need to face her. It’s... it’s time."

Vi nodded, her lips pressing together in that quiet, reassuring way she always did when she understood. Without saying anything more, she started the truck, the engine rumbling to life, and they began the drive toward Caitlyn’s home. The drive felt longer than it actually was, but every minute, Caitlyn felt the knot in her stomach loosen just a little. With Vi by her side, it was easier to breathe.

As the truck neared her house, Caitlyn’s thoughts grew heavier. She could already imagine the look on her mother’s face when she saw her, the anger and confusion she would feel. But there was something in Caitlyn’s heart that had shifted, something that was telling her it didn’t matter anymore. She wasn’t going to let her mother define her. She wasn’t going to let fear control her life anymore.

This was about her. About the life she wanted to build. And no matter what happened next, she was going to stand by her choices.

They rolled to a stop, and Caitlyn's heart raced in her chest. The air felt heavier now, the moment finally here. Vi’s hand, still resting on the gearshift, was warm against Caitlyn's, grounding her in the present. But it didn’t quite ease the tension in her bones. The world seemed to still as Caitlyn turned to face Vi, the only person who truly understood her in this moment.

Without saying a word, Caitlyn leaned forward. Vi didn’t hesitate, meeting her halfway. The kiss that followed was soft, tentative at first, as though they were both savoring the fleeting moment before the storm. It was like the calm before the inevitable, and yet it was so much more. In that kiss, Caitlyn found strength. Strength that wasn’t just about being brave enough to face her parents, but about knowing that no matter what happened next, she wouldn’t have to do it alone. Vi had become her anchor, and this kiss, quiet as it was, told Caitlyn everything she needed to know.

When they pulled away, Caitlyn lingered for a second longer, her forehead resting against Vi’s. She could hear Vi's breath, feel the steady rhythm of it against her skin. There was a sense of peace, like an unspoken promise that everything would be okay, even if it didn’t feel like it right now. Caitlyn took a deep breath, squeezing Vi’s hand before opening the truck door.

They walked to the front door together, Caitlyn’s mind swirling with uncertainty. She was hyper aware of every creak of the steps beneath her shoes, the sound of her breath echoing in the stillness of the morning. When she reached for the door, her fingers trembled, but she managed to steady herself long enough to unlock it.

The door swung open with a familiar sound, but something was off. The house, the place she had always known as home, felt... colder. The familiarity of the halls didn’t greet her like it used to. It felt empty, as if the walls themselves were holding their breath, waiting for her to take the first step inside.

Vi stood beside her, quietly supportive but just as unsure of what to do. Caitlyn stepped inside, the silence almost suffocating, but Vi followed her in without question, her presence a constant reassurance.

Caitlyn didn’t know what she was expecting. Maybe her mother would be standing there, ready to give her a lecture, or perhaps her father would have a thousand questions. But as she stood there, frozen for a moment, the familiar sounds of the house, the ticking of the clock on the wall, the soft hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen, felt so alien, so distant. It was like she was in someone else’s home.

And then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw him. Her father emerged from the adjacent room. His face lit up the second he saw her, his expression filled with something she hadn’t seen in a long time: joy. He moved toward her quickly, his arms opening wide.

“Caitlyn!” he exclaimed, his voice thick with emotion. He didn’t hesitate. He wrapped her in a tight hug, his arms enveloping her like they always had when she was little. The feeling of his embrace brought tears to Caitlyn’s eyes, and for a moment, she let herself sink into the comfort of it, feeling the weight of everything she had been carrying lift, just for a second.

“I was so worried about you, sweetheart,” he murmured, pulling back to look at her. His eyes were soft, full of concern but not anger. He smiled gently. “I’m so glad you’re home.”

Caitlyn nodded, feeling the lump in her throat growing, but she didn’t speak just yet. She needed a moment. Her father didn’t push her. He just gave her a look, a silent understanding that said everything.

Vi, standing behind Caitlyn, shifted slightly as if she wasn’t sure how to fit into this moment. Caitlyn felt the pull to introduce her, to make this right. She reached out for Vi’s hand, drawing her into the conversation, and looked up at her father.

“Dad, this is Vi,” she said, her voice wavering but steady. “She’s... she’s been there for me. Through everything.”

Her father turned his gaze to Vi, and without missing a beat, he held out his hand.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Vi,” he said, his voice warm but formal. “I can’t thank you enough for taking care of my daughter. You’ve brought her back to me, and for that, I’ll always be grateful.”

Vi’s eyes widened, her breath catching as she took his hand. Caitlyn watched in awe as her father’s expression shifted, his usual ‘I mean business’ demeanor melting into something much more gentle, much more welcoming. It was a side of him she had rarely seen, and it made Caitlyn’s heart swell with relief.

She could tell that Vi was taken aback, unsure of how to react to her father’s warmth. Vi was usually so quick with her words, so quick to deflect praise, but right now, she was completely still, caught off guard by how kindly Caitlyn’s father was treating her. Caitlyn’s heart softened as she looked between the two of them, feeling a swell of emotion rise in her chest.

Her father gave Vi’s hand one last shake and then smiled warmly. “Come, sit down,” he said, guiding them toward the living room. “You’re both welcome here. You’ve done more for Caitlyn than I can even put into words.”

Vi didn’t know what to say, and Caitlyn was sure she didn’t either. But her father’s kindness, his unexpected hospitality, made everything seem just a little bit easier. It wasn’t the angry confrontation Caitlyn had feared. It wasn’t a battle. Instead, it was a welcome, a chance for healing.

Vi, still a little shocked, followed Caitlyn as they sat on the couch together. Caitlyn looked at her father, who took a seat across from them, his eyes soft with affection.

“I’m so glad you’re home.” he said again, and Caitlyn couldn’t help but smile. It wasn’t perfect. She wasn’t sure what would happen next. But in that moment, surrounded by the love and warmth of her father, Caitlyn felt something she hadn’t felt in a long time.

Hope.

The silence stretched between them, the weight of it pressing on Caitlyn’s chest as she sat beside Vi. Her hand, warm and steady in Caitlyn’s, was a small comfort in the face of everything uncertain. Caitlyn's gaze flitted around the room, taking in the towering bookshelves, the polished furniture, and the walls that seemed to close in on her, offering no comfort. Vi was sitting next to her, still, her body language tense but curious, her eyes scanning the grandeur of the living room like she was seeing it for the first time. Caitlyn watched her closely, wondering how it must feel to be here, in a place so different from her own home in the Undercity. The contrast was jarring, almost painful. But she couldn’t focus on that for long; her attention snapped back to the door as it opened.

Cassandra entered, her presence filling the room with an aura of coldness that made Caitlyn’s stomach twist. There was no explosion of rage like Caitlyn had feared, but the emptiness of her expression was far worse than any anger. Her mother’s gaze swept over her and Vi before settling somewhere in between, unreadable and distant. Caitlyn’s breath caught, unsure of what to expect from her.

Cassandra didn’t say anything at first, and Caitlyn could hear the faintest thrum of her own heartbeat in her ears. She wanted to say something, to explain herself, but the words stuck in her throat, lodged there with fear and uncertainty.

But Tobias, ever the diplomat, broke the silence. “Cassandra, come sit down,” he said, his tone gentle, a little more neutral than usual.

“Let’s talk.”

Cassandra’s eyes briefly met Caitlyn’s, but they quickly dropped again, her posture as rigid as ever. She moved to take a seat across from them, her eyes never fully focusing on either Caitlyn or Vi.

Finally, Cassandra spoke, her voice soft but with an edge that cut through the tension. “You left Nationals.” Her words landed like a punch, but Caitlyn didn’t flinch. She wasn’t going to let her mother dictate how she felt. Not anymore.

“I didn’t leave,” Caitlyn said quietly, finding her voice despite the ache in her chest. “I didn’t want the medal. I wanted to live. I wanted to make my own decisions, not just follow rules I never agreed with.”

Cassandra didn’t respond immediately, but Caitlyn saw her mother’s lips tighten, her eyes darkening just slightly. “And this,” Cassandra gestured toward Vi, her voice dripping with icy calm, “is the decision you made?”

Caitlyn opened her mouth to respond, but Tobias intervened once more, raising a hand to calm the tension. “This isn’t about us,” he said, looking between his wife and daughter. “It’s about Caitlyn, and the path she’s on. She’s her own person now, Cassandra. We need to trust her.”

There was a long silence. Vi, still sitting beside Caitlyn, remained eerily quiet, her eyes fixed on the floor. Caitlyn could feel the strain in her shoulders, the anxiety she was trying to keep in check. Vi wasn’t saying anything, not because she didn’t have a voice in the matter, but because she knew how much was at stake for Caitlyn.

Finally, Cassandra spoke again, but her words didn’t carry the same biting tone as before. “I want you to understand,” she said, her voice almost as cold as before but tinged with something else, something Caitlyn couldn’t place. “This isn’t about her being from the Undercity. It’s about what’s best for you, Caitlyn. This... this relationship, whatever it is, isn’t what I had envisioned for you. You’re my daughter, and I love you. But you’ve disappointed me.”

Caitlyn's heart dropped, but she didn’t look away. She wouldn’t let her mother see her break. She wouldn’t let anyone see her break anymore. “You’re disappointed because I’m not living up to your idea of who I should be,” Caitlyn said, her voice strong now, the weight of her words carrying the conviction she had never had before. “But I’m not you. I’m me. I need to live for myself. I need to be who I am, not who you want me to be.”

Cassandra’s lips pressed into a thin line, and Caitlyn could feel the anger brewing underneath her cool exterior. But Caitlyn didn’t back down. She would never go back to that place of silence, of appeasing others. Not anymore.

Vi’s hand gave Caitlyn’s a squeeze, and Caitlyn turned to look at her, seeing the support in her eyes. Vi didn’t need to say anything. Her presence said everything.

Caitlyn’s heart was racing, her breath steady but deep as she gathered every ounce of courage she had. Her gaze locked onto Cassandra’s, her mother’s stoic face reflecting nothing but a quiet, unyielding coldness. For so long, Caitlyn had lived within the confines of her mother’s expectations, seeking approval, measuring her every move against the perfection her mother demanded. But not anymore.

“I like Vi,” Caitlyn said, her voice steady but undeniably firm. She could feel the weight of the words as they left her lips, a quiet defiance laced within them. “And I don’t care if you think that’s wrong.”

She wasn’t going to flinch this time. She wasn’t going to apologize for something that felt right. "I don’t care if Vi’s from Zaun. I don’t care what anyone says about her. Nothing’s going to change how I feel." Caitlyn swallowed hard, her voice breaking just slightly, but she kept going. "I don’t care what anyone says about me either."

Cassandra’s lips parted slightly, but she didn’t interrupt. She didn’t speak at all, her gaze icy and distant, but Caitlyn could feel her mother's eyes piercing through her, weighing her, measuring her.

“I left Nationals, Mom,” Caitlyn continued, the words tumbling out with a weight she had been holding back for so long. “I didn’t leave because I didn’t care about the title. I left because I wanted to be with the person who mattered to me the most in that moment. That was Vi. It wasn’t about the medals or the applause. It wasn’t about what I was supposed to do or what you wanted me to do. It was about her.”

The silence in the room seemed to stretch for an eternity as Caitlyn let her words hang in the air. Every part of her wanted to shrink, to pull back, but she stood firm. She wasn’t that same scared girl anymore. She wasn’t the girl who let her mother’s judgments dictate her every move.

Her eyes didn’t leave Cassandra’s, even though her stomach was twisting, her hands shaking. “I’ve spent my whole life trying to please you, trying to make you proud,” Caitlyn said, her voice raw now. “But I’m not you. I’m not going to live my life trying to fit into a mold that isn’t mine.” She took a breath, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I love skating. I do. But I left because I realized that what’s really important, what really matters, is who I’m with. It’s Vi."

Cassandra remained silent, her face unreadable, but Caitlyn could see the tension in her mother’s posture. It wasn’t anger, not the kind Caitlyn had feared. It was something else, something harder to read. She wanted to think that it was resignation, or perhaps understanding, but Caitlyn couldn’t be sure.

She waited for her mother to speak, her pulse pounding in her ears. A thousand thoughts swirled around in her head, but the one that cut through the noise was that no matter how this conversation ended, Caitlyn wasn’t going to hide who she was anymore. Not for anyone.

After a long stretch of silence, Cassandra finally spoke. Her voice was calm, but it was the kind of calm that held everything back, everything reined in tightly. “I don’t understand you,” she said quietly, the words almost like a confession. “I don’t understand her.”
Her eyes flicked briefly to Vi, who was still sitting quietly beside Caitlyn, her hand resting gently in Caitlyn’s, offering quiet strength. Vi said nothing, as though sensing that Caitlyn was carrying the weight of this moment alone. But Caitlyn didn’t feel alone. Vi was there, and that was all that mattered.

“I never asked you to understand me, Mom,” Caitlyn replied, her voice breaking the silence. “I just need you to accept that this is who I am. This is who I want to be.”

Cassandra didn’t answer right away, her gaze turning distant as though she was processing everything, weighing it all. Her mouth was set in a thin line, but Caitlyn could see her mother’s eyes soften just a fraction, just enough for Caitlyn to see it.

“I’m still your mother, Caitlyn,” Cassandra said after a long pause, her voice quiet. “I can’t just... throw away everything I’ve believed.”
“I don’t want you to throw anything away,” Caitlyn said, her voice softer now. “I just want you to see me. To see who I am. To stop trying to control everything.”

The air in the room felt thick with unspoken things, and Caitlyn wasn’t sure how long the silence stretched between them. It wasn’t comfortable, but it wasn’t hostile either. It was just... waiting.

Finally, Cassandra nodded once, her lips tight, and stood up from her seat. “I still don’t agree with it,” she said, the words almost like a final verdict. “But I’ll... I’ll try. I can’t promise anything, but I’ll try to understand.”

Caitlyn’s breath caught in her throat. It wasn’t an apology. It wasn’t a full acceptance. But it was something. Something she could work with.

“Thank you,” Caitlyn whispered, barely able to get the words out.

Cassandra gave a short nod before turning away. Caitlyn didn’t expect anything more. She didn’t need it. What she needed, what she wanted, was for her mother to accept that Caitlyn wasn’t the person her mother wanted her to be. She was Caitlyn Kiramman. And Caitlyn Kiramman was going to live her life for herself, for the people she loved.

As her mother walked away, Caitlyn turned to Vi, her hand still firmly clasped in Vi’s. The weight of everything, the conversation, the fear, the uncertainty, had started to lift. She wasn’t sure what the future would hold, but for the first time in a long time, Caitlyn felt like she was heading in the right direction. Toward the life she wanted, toward the person she loved.

And for now, that was enough.