She continues chuckling as she pulls her sleeve across her eyes. It's a little embarassing, crying like this in front of people. Sometimes Kate isn't as brave and bold as she appears to be. Inside there's a sad little girl, wanting the world to be unicorns and kittens and trying not to see it's anything else. But there's somebody here for her, somebody to let her know that even if the world is a dark place, there's a light in the form of a friend who has her arms open waiting for you.

It's only a few short steps between her and Steph and Kate gets rid of them without a word. It's not the full bosomed tight arms her mom would give her on a bad day, something she misses the most, but this hug is almost as good. There's love and care behind it and that's all that matters right now.