Flicking through the aged photo album on the floor of her two-bedroom apartment, Adora sighed. It had been years since she looked through her parents' photo albums, this one specifically. Turning a page, she chuckled at a picture of her five-year-old self sat on top of an adolescent horse she had named Swifty which had surprisingly stuck. Next to her were her adoptive sister Glimmer and their best friend Bow. The next photo showed all three together on their own respected horses, but a few years between the two.

She snorted. Adora ought to visit them soon, she just hadn't had the chance with her new job and student loans to pay. She had left Swifty in the care of her parents and siblings when they visited often. Adora hoped she could do the same. That proves difficulty as she lives a few hundred miles away from her adoptive family, whereas Grace and Beckett live only a half hour away.

Adora furiously wiped at her eyes. No. She was not about to ruin a perfectly good and memorable photo album with her salty tears.

Feeling subconscious and worrying that her roommate was about to walk in at any minute, Adora cleared her throat and continued to flick through the pages of the album. During that time, she was reminded of all her vast events that had occurred in her life. When she had finished, she closed it and carefully placed the album beside her, reaching out for the next.

Before she could open it, her phone vibrated. She turned as the screen lit up, showing she had received a message from Glimmer, into their group chat.

We're outside! Why aren't you answering?!

Adora, shocked, spluttered a reply out with a huff. What do you mean you're outside?

I just told Grace we should've just called you, considering we've been out here for about 10 minutes. Adora chuckled at her Bow's response.

Hurry up Adora! It's FREEZIN out here! That was the last message Adora received from Glimmer before opening the apartment door and letting them in.

Shivering, Glimmer ran straight to the bathroom. A few seconds later, Adora and Bow could hear a tap running. "Why is there no hot water?!" Glimmer's voice was heard faintly through the walls.

Adora shrugged and settled back down into the spot she was in before, the last unopened album sat in front of her, taunting her. "No idea," she called back. "Mermista must've used it all this morning."

"How?!" Glimmer shrieked. Adora laughed in reply but said nothing else.

Bow walked over and lowered himself next to Adora. "So, what you been up to?"

"Oh, ya know," Adora gestured to the pile of photo albums around herself. "I was feeling a little down. I found these under my bed. I think mother must've hidden them there." She paused for a second. "Don't look at me like that Bow, I don't know why she hid them here!"

Bow gave her a look. "I wasn't looking at you."

"Thanks."

Rolling his eyes, Bow pointed at the unopened album. "I was looking at that. Where did you get it from?"

Adora looked to and from Bow and the album. "What do you mean? It was with the others."

"But I've never seen that one before. Hey, Glimmer?" He called over his shoulder.

"Hmm?" Glimmer replied, walking into the room and sinking onto the chair, overlooking her the two.

"Have you seen this before?" Bow asked, pointing to the same album as before.

Glimmer narrowed her eyes, leaning forward for a closer inspection. "No, I don't believe I have." She sat back, pulling her legs up under herself. "Why?"

"Because Adora found this with the others."

They stared at each other in utter silence. Adora merely watched, her anxiety levels increasing higher and higher by the minute. She looked between the two, her brow furrowed, eyes wide. What was going on with them? Did they know something that Adora didn't?

What were they keeping from her? And why?

"Guys, what –" Adora started but Glimmer cut her off.

"Let's go out!" And that's exactly what they did, the unopened album left on the floor.

A few days later, Glimmer and Bow were finally gone. Glimmer was getting tired of the quiet city and Bow had to get back to his university.

Finally.

Finally, Adora was alone.

Finally, she could look at the album she never opened in peace.

She pulled it out of her hiding place in the closet – Glimmer would've taken it with her otherwise – and dropped it gently onto her bed. Crossing her legs, Adora leant her head in her hands. She hesitated. She had no idea what to expect from this mysterious album that not even her sister or brother recognised. Now that she thought about it, Adora realised she had never seen it before either.

It's now or never she thought.

She opened it.

On the inside front cover was a message written in her adoptive mother's handwriting;

Adora,

I made this in secrecy. None of you know about this, not even your father. Knowing your siblings, they must have a hunch to be able to guess what this is, but I advise you, do not tell them about what this is until you understand why I made this. This is for your eyes and your eyes only. You can share if you wish but I believe it will then lose its sentimental value. Please write and let me know how things turn out. I love you little one and I did this for both of you.

Love, Mom xx

Adora froze before turning to the next page. What was her mother going on about?

She couldn't bring herself to turn over the next page. Instead, Adora decided to call her mother.

She answered almost immediately, "I thought you'd ring me."

"Mom!" Adora shouted down the phone, then wincing at herself realising that she may have just deafened her own mother.

"Adora!" Her mother scolded, with a hint of laughter in her voice.

The twenty-year-old got straight to the point. "What's in this album?"

"I told you to open it yourself."

"I can't!"

"Why not?" Her mother questioned.

"Because –" Adora stopped, a lump caught in her throat.

"You're scared?" Her mother chuckled softly. "There's no need to be scared honey. Trust me, and just open it up. You will regret it if you don't." The line cut off.

Adora grabbed the page, turned it over and –

And she froze. Her whole body went numb, shivering from the sudden iciness of her apartment. What was in front of her – the photo – she couldn't believe. Tears stung the corner of Adora's eyes and escaped ferociously. Adora made no attempt to stop them.

In the photo was Adora herself at twelve-years-old and her ex childhood best friend Catra, someone whom she had not seen in over 5 years – both standing in front of Adora's horse, right before he got out of his pen and ran away.

Tears began to sting at Adora's eyes again.

She had blamed Catra for it. Adora assumed that Catra had not shut the gate correctly when she went inside the stables. However, the photo next to it was what caught Adora out. Catra was in the stables behind Adora, so she was not the last person to shut the gate.

Swifty came back to the stables of course with nothing but a sprained leg. Adora was so worried she was crying for the whole day that he was gone. She had exploded in Catra's face and told her to get out.

Turns out it wasn't even her fault.

"Catra…" Adora whispered softly, sliding her fingers over Catherine's smiling face.

Snapping the book shut, Adora got up, grabbing her phone off her desk. She quickly dialled a number.

"Glimmer? What? Yeah, I'm fine. Yep, yep, everything's great." Adora groaned. She didn't have time for this. "Glimmer, listen. I need a huge favour."

Adora bounced her foot viscously, like a little girl waiting to get some candy. Wrapping her hands round her hot chocolate she turned her head in every direction all the while still bouncing her leg and spilling her drink over the rim of her cup.

Until she saw her. The girl she had been waiting for.

The girl she hadn't seen for over 5 years.

"Hey Adora."

"Catra…"