Masks off

 Now the walls had come down a little. Em had to face the fact these really were human beings she was dealing with--not her internalized ideals. This was no dream, no test to see if she was worthy of a better life.

This simply was life. Dylan was right: she had to just be herself. Or an approximation thereof.

She knocked on Kate's door, much less frantic than a couple days ago. "Ruuuuuuuby--just here to check on you!"