They went home in silence. If her girlfriend said anything, she didn’t hear it. Fayth didn’t want to hear it. She was trying not to cry. She didn’t cry. Strong women didn’t cry.

That was what her father had told her. Then again, her father was not the one who usually made her feel like crying.

The house was dark, but Fayth did not turn on the lights. Fumiko did, after closing the front door behind her, removing her shoes as Fayth often forgot to do. “Fayth.”

Robotic, Fayth knelt down to remove her boots. She said nothing.

“If this is wrong, I am glad you are imperfect.”

Tears threatened her again, but Fayth won. At the very least, today, she had won in this. Looking up, she saw Fumiko standing there. Maybe not as beautiful as they day they had met, but to be fair they had met was at a fancy dress gathering and Fumiko’s dressage had been stunning.

No, it was Fumiko. The woman who loved her. The woman who stood beside her, no matter who they faced.

The one who accepted that Fayth was imperfect.

Fayth finally smiled. “Me too.”