Like I said, this one's been "in the works" for a long time… basically I just couldn't think of how or where to go with it! But I'm gonna post it anyways. Hopefully that in itself will motivate me to try to keep… working… on it. LOL. Oh, I wanna say thanks to everybody that left kind words regarding "Overcoming All Boundaries." That was kind of a "drawing from personal feelings that I could never reveal" story, and the comments meant a lot! So thanks! Right… onto the story…

Chapter One – "Her Escape" "They should make envelopes taste better," thought Sora as she sealed her letter and placed it, with shaking hand, on the bare bed in her old dormroom. She knew her roommate Mimi would be home in a matter of minutes, so she had to leave quickly, or not at all. Gazing back into the place she'd called home for so long, she picked up her remaining bags from the hallway floor, shut the door behind her, and walked rapidly outside to her 1990 Volkswagn Cabriolet. It was snowing, and she could see her breath as she crammed her last two duffels in the back amongst her other personal belongings. She'd left the car running, so the heat was a nice surprise when she finally slid into the driver's seat. Without looking behind her, she put the cabby in first gear and drove off campus. Only moments later, the whirling snow had covered the retreating tire tracks, leaving nothing but memories of her on the wind.

When Mimi arrived home later that evening, and noticed that all of Sora's things were gone, her first response was to panic. She dialed Tai's extension number, but instead of reaching him, she heard the familiarly quirky answering machine message on the other end of the line: "Hey you've reached Tai and Matt… we may just be screening our calls so if you're by any chance a group of fine young ladies, don't bother to leave us a message, just come over! (muffled: YAMATO STAY AWAY FROM THOSE!) And if you're anyone else… sorry you couldn't reach us. Better luck next time." Mimi hung up the phone, and was taking a second glance around the room when she noticed the beige envelope lying where Sora's baby-blue quilt had once covered her bed. She sat down on the mattress, opened the letter, and began to read:

Dearest Mimi,

There is no easy way to start this letter… I am sure you are wondering of my whereabouts, and I will be completely honest with you. I'm transferring out. Don't for an instant think that I didn't adore your roommate and going to college here… it's much more complicated than that. I've been living a lie the past few years, and I'm tired. Too exhausted to continue… you've watched me date many boys on and off throughout our high school and college careers. I often wondered if you ever questioned the number of these so-called "men…" it's not because I'm flitty, or afraid of commitment… in all actuality these boys were simply a last ditch, desperate effort to change myself – to change something ABOUT myself I never should have tried to change. You could say I am bisexual… I like the physicality of being with a boy but there is one girl in my life who has always had my attention over any guy. She's grown up with me, cried with me, laughed with me, hugged me, scolded me, always kept me in line, and been the best friend (and roommate) I could ever hope to have… it's you, Mimi. Of course it's you. I think I'm in love with you but I'm terrified to find out… terrified of the implications. If this is who I am, then I accept that, and the consequences… but I can't stay around you any longer. I may slip up… hug you too long, stare at you in ways that I shouldn't, and then I would lose you forever. I guess I'm giving you up before you can give up on ME.

I'm so scared of this… God knows I've tried to fight the feelings for so long. How can something I have no control over be wrong? And yet that's what I've always been taught… that these feelings are a sin, punishable by an eternity in hell. It doesn't help to know that if you ever come out to your family, they'll disown you without a second thought. Maybe I don't buy into the hype they've fed me… maybe I'd rather be who I truly am, and search for a God that loves me anyway, than to remain scared and lost, with an uncertain future. I guess, in a way, that's what I'm doing by leaving.

Supposedly there are a lot of 'freaks' out at Wescott U, where I'm going. Maybe I can blend in, be less noticeable, finish college… figure out what I'm going to do with myself, and my life. I hope so.

There's not much else I can say… you are truly a kind and wonderful person, Mimi, so please don't ever change. The thought of you and the way things used to be will keep me going in the coming years. I'm so sorry to drop this on you, and take the coward's way out. I'll always regret not having said this to your face, and yet, I think it's better like this, in the end. There's no room for tears. I will always remember you… I pray daily that you will accomplish everything you want to in your lifetime, and that when you get to heaven, you will put in a good word for me, because Lord knows, I may need it.

Very Sincerely Yours,

Sora Takenouchi

The letter dropped to the floor as Mimi struggled to comprehend what she'd just read. Sora? In love with her? It surpassed anything she'd ever imagined of her best friend. As Sora herself had pointed out, she'd had quite a few boyfriends since they'd started college, but Mimi had always just assumed she was on a mad hunt for "Mr. Right." Now with so many new thoughts and questions running through her head, she felt overwhelmed and exhausted. Sleep, however, was out of the question. Taking charge, Mimi began packing up some bare essentials into a couple small bags. It would be pointless to set out for Wescott tonight, but in the morning she'd have a long journey ahead of her.