Title: Future Imperfect
Author: Michelle K.
Site: http://glimmershine.tripod.com
Challenge: cathandsara #5 -- 'Star Trek: TNG' titles
Word Count: 168
Pairing: Catherine/Sara
Rating: PG
Summary: She'll pretend.
Disclaimer: Not mine. Don't sue.

*

She'll be the one who breaks it off. You'll be surprised that you didn't see it coming. That you'll miss her before she says her final goodbye.

Not that it'll be 'goodbye' -- you'll still have to see her every single day.

They'll know you loved her. Love her. Will always love her in a way deeper than that obsession with Grissom, because she gave you a clue as to what you'll spend the rest of your life missing.

She'll know. She has to. But she'll pretend.

You'll be as transparent as ever. And you'll hate yourself for still being that girl: hard enough around the edges that people don't feel bad about hurting you, soft enough in the middle that even seeing her smile feels like a knife in your heart.

She'll say she's sorry sometime during the third case you work together in awkward semi-silence.

"Nothing to be sorry about." It'll be a lie.

She'll know. But she'll continue to pretend.

You'll continue to love her.

END