[ She slid a look to him. It was...hopeful. Gods below, even Cat in her eternal optimism about what the world could be like, understood that suffering simply was sometimes.

She did not voice this, to him. It was meant in kindness, and she'd learned a great deal about kindness over the past few years, hadn't she?

And with that thought, he might be right. She smiled, softly. ]

Perhaps you are correct. I'm here...a person far better than I would have been years ago. [ She admitted it, her tone fond, of those experiences. ]

I would like to find out why this happened, just like you. It may offer answers yet. I hold out hope that the dream was just a trick -- I know it is one someone would pull on me, personally, but...

That seems so naive, doesn't it? To hope that it's all a lie?