Finally Fallon looked at her, her eyes tearstained and red rimmed but full of truth. Malou nodded, accepting this, remembering Fallon coming home the other night and slipping into her bed so she wouldn’t have to be alone.

“You don’t have to decide right now.” She said gently, her eyes never wavering in her gaze from her friend’s. Once years ago, Fallon had said something similar to her, in the long days after her parents had died and Malou didn’t know if she should follow her careful plan or tread the path her parents had wanted for her. Even as Fallon had said those words Malou had felt her decision in her heart, the choice that would not betray who she was no matter what she thought might be expected of her.