ACT ONE

Scene Fourteen:

"One Hand, One Heart"

"This is a surprise," Vi said, a note of giddiness in her voice.

"It looks like a church," Caitlyn replied, walking beside her.

They entered through a garden, heading down the middle of a stone, cruciform path with a fountain at the center of its crossroads.

Surrounding them was the medieval museum of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The cloisters encircled the garden, hallways with stone arches that almost looked like windows.

"It's a museum now, you know," Vi answered, a tad bashful, but excited to see more.

She was glad Caitlyn seemed to enjoy it as much as her. The garden was divided into four quadrants, each with a manicured lawn and a crabapple tree in each corner. Rows of all different kinds of flowers lined the cruciform pathway.

They joked how some of the flowers matched their hair color.

The silence may have been a tiny bit awkward, but it was nice to just… be in each other's presence. Not have to talk. Just listen. Look around. Watch.

Caitlyn walked in front of Vi, continuing on, her eye catching something as she walked into the little cloister from Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert. Vi watched her out of the corner of her eye, then looked around at the architecture above her, admiringly. Large stone blocks, all stacked together piece by piece. Staring under it, she was surprised the whole thing wouldn't collapse in on itself. But every block was supporting the other beside it.

She didn't think she'd get the chance to come here and see the inside for herself. It was more beautiful than she thought.

For probably the hundredth time, Vi scanned around them, thankful not many people were present today. No guards or tourists were giving her suspicious looks. And nobody else had entered in their wing.

They were alone, for now. Still… it wasn't quite the relief she needed.

Glancing once more at Caitlyn, Vi sat down on one of the low stone walls of the arcade.

"The, uh… first time I saw this place, I was on a prison bus. Heading up to Stillwater… the, uh, state prison in Ossining," she said slowly.

Caitlyn turned and looked at her with an unreadable expression.

Vi wasn't sure she could keep her story moving past her lips, so she plowed ahead anyway, looking straight at the floor.

"There… was a rumble," she started, "And I busted up this kid. He was in the Egyptian Kings."

She touched the lip of stone with her hand, keeping her body open. She willed her throat to work. She felt like she was in a confessional.

Caitlyn slowly stepped closer, watching her.

"He only didn't die because of luck. Like… one more punch and he probably would've died. And I would've done it." Vi nodded at the ground.

She clenched her fists in her lap.

"I would've murdered this messed up kid who was no different from me. And for a year in prison and ever since I got out, I can't quit thinking about what I almost done."

A note of panic entered her voice that she did her best to control. Her heart hammered, her throat almost closing in on itself.

"I think about almost killing him and I… it's like I'm always just about to fall off the edge of the world's tallest building…"

For the first time, she looked up at Caitlyn, the tiniest of smiles on her lips.

"… But I stopped falling the second I saw you."

Caitlyn's eyes looked wet, her face a little pale.

Terrified, Vi hung her head, staring at the floor again. She merely sat there, her leg bouncing again. Her knuckles gripped the edge of the stone lip she sat upon. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

She sealed her mouth shut. Her throat swallowing dry air.

Then she blinked in surprise as Caitlyn sat down beside her and laid her hand on top of hers. Caitlyn looked at her, not with understanding, but with sympathy. Forgiveness.

It almost made Vi's eyes tear up.

She was soothed enough that she didn't jump when the Cloister bells started to ring the hour.

As they continued to tour around, talking about their families, their dreams, their homelife, they saw a man was playing a violin, busking outside in a courtyard. Caitlyn opened her purse and went over to drop some spare change in his case. Vi smiled as she watched her. The man tipped his hat to Caitlyn, and she curtsied to him.

Vi smiled as Caitlyn came back and slid her hand into hers.

In another courtyard, there was a vendor with a popcorn cart. A few more people milled around, looking out over the view of the city and the river. Nearby, a small, old man, with a cane, round glasses, and a hunched back, was sitting on a bench, feeding breadcrumbs to a flock of birds at his feet. With a pang of guilt, Vi vaguely remembered him as the same guy that she passed last night, when she had scared his birds away.

A little puzzled, Caitlyn saw Vi buy a small box of popcorn from the vendor and walk over toward the old man. Caitlyn was too far to hear specifics of their conversation, but after quite of few repetitions on Vi's part – raising her voice into the old man's ear horn – the man smiled and patted Vi's arm. He let her sit by him and feed the birds.

Caitlyn cocked her head to the side and smiled.

After walking through all the gardens, the mood felt a lot lighter between them. When the weather grew a bit colder, Vi gave Caitlyn her denim jacket to borrow and they moved inside.

But as time drew on, the air hung heavier with a different issue on both of their minds. Thoughts they didn't voice aloud.

Inside the gothic chapel, Caitlyn walked among the funerary figures on the sarcophagus lids. The afternoon sun was staining the glass windows ablaze.

Caitlyn came in front of a Mary statue and knelt down, giving the sign of the cross. Vi watched her, a few feet away, almost not sure what to do.

Then Caitlyn stood up and turned to her. She voiced what was on both of their minds. "I shouldn't have asked you to stop the fighting," she said to Vi, "I don't want you to go anywhere near the fighting."

She continued past her, looking up at a stained-glass window, glowing with radiant reds, blues, and yellows. The diamond pattern glowed brilliantly on the stone floor.

While Caitlyn was admiring the window, Vi searched for words to comfort her. It was then she felt the note she had crumpled in her pocket. She took it out, giving it one more glance.

Vi stepped closer to Caitlyn and repeated, like she'd practiced a hundred times before their date, "Quiero… estar… contigo… para… siempre."

Caitlyn looked at her, surprised, then burst out a chuckle she tried to hold in.

Vi blushed. "Don't laugh! It means –"

Caitlyn leaned her head against her shoulder, sighing contently, "I know what it means."

Vi blushed even more for a moment, but then relaxed, liking the contact.

After a bit, Caitlyn slowly stepped away, curiously eyeing the four, tall saints in the apse. She came in front of a pew, facing the brilliant stained-glass window. Vi stood near her, still at a slight distance.

Caitlyn looked back at Vi, noticing how Vi held herself back in shadow.

Waiting, Caitlyn held out her hand for Vi to take. Vi blinked at the gesture, then swallowed and took it.

Caitlyn led her into the light and knelt at the pew. Vi followed her lead and knelt beside her.

From their angle, they both looked up at the saints and the stained-glass window. With a better angle to the sky, it looked bigger, refracting rainbows of light in the dust floating in the air.

Caitlyn side glanced at Vi without her noticing.

Her fiery pink hair glowed with the light around her, the tips of her fringe white, and the rest deflecting the stained-glass colors, almost like oil on water. Her eyes were big with wonder, her expression slack. She watched everything with an appreciation of beauty. Caitlyn liked that about her.

Caitlyn wanted to share this with Vi. For her to feel welcomed in this space. To feel welcomed by her, as she was.

Turning her body to her, Caitlyn smiled at her and started speaking.

"Yo, Caitlyn, te recibo a ti, Violet…"

Looking at her, Vi narrowed her eyes and listened, but shook her head. She whispered hesitantly, "I don't know what that…"

Caitlyn cocked her head to the side. After a moment, Vi blinked and her eyes widened.

"Oh! That's –" she chuckled in surprise and delight.

"Don't laugh!" Caitlyn repeated, even though a contagious laugh bubbled out of her, too.

Vi calmed herself down and nodded. Turning her body toward her, in kind, she looked down and squeezed Caitlyn's hand.

"I, Vi –" she quickly amended, "I, Violet, take you, Caitlyn…"

She fought back a tear and bit her lip, trying to remember the words.

"Uh… rich or poor –"

"I'm poor," Caitlyn admitted.

"I'm poorer," Vi corrected, as though to warn her, like it was a competition. It made Caitlyn softly chuckle.

Stroking her hand, Caitlyn cleared her voice, taking it from there.

"En la prosperidad y en la adversidad. Para amarte y respetarte." She translated, smiling, "To love you and respect you…"

Vi smiled at her. "Siempre."

Vi gently took Caitlyn's hand and turned to stare into her eyes. She understood what Caitlyn was trying to do. She appreciated it. She sang her feelings instead.

Make of our hands one hand

Make of our hearts one heart

Make of our vows one last vow:

Even death won't part us now…

Caitlyn answered in song. Vi thought her voice was heavenly.

Make of our lives one life

Day after day, one life

Now it begins, now we start

One hand,

One heart

Only death will part us now…

Again, a shadow seemed to pass across Caitlyn's face. Vi noticed as Caitlyn stood up, hugging her jacket around herself tighter, and walked toward the staircase at the other end of the chapel.

Vi glanced up as the colored light from the stained-glass windows dimmed. Outside, sparse clouds covered the sun. She pursed her lips together, frowning at the world beyond.

The peace they could have inside these four walls, would mean nothing if the world outside wouldn't accept them together.

Caitlyn climbed partway up the stairs and was waiting for Vi to catch up. Vi turned and stopped at the foot of the staircase, looking up at her love. Her eyes were almost stern.

"You're worried," Vi noted, "But they're still my guys, they'll listen to me."

Caitlyn's eyebrows shot up. "But what if you can't?" she asked, already shaking her head at the potential danger of the idea.

Vi took another step up the staircase to be level with her. "We can't be together while they're brawling all around us… because of us."

Caitlyn's eyes shimmered, her lips twitching. As she looked at the floor, Vi silently stood in front of her. Caitlyn blinked, feeling Vi gently taking her hand.

"I promise you, Caitlyn…" Vi murmured, holding up her hand and kissing her knuckles, "… there won't be any fight."

The sun returned and shone in the window again, casting them both in a radiant glow. Vi thought it shined off Caitlyn's hair almost like water, brighter than crystal.

Vi gingerly reached out and touched her cheek. She sang again, wanting Caitlyn to look up at her. To know things would be okay. That she could trust her. She would never let her down. She would do anything for her. She wanted to be a safe place for her.

Make of our lives one life…

Caitlyn slowly looked up at her. She was struck by her pretty blue eyes shining, her hair glowing, her small yet confident smile beaming.

She realized she would always be in awe of Vi's optimism. Her confidence wasn't from a cocky place. It was from a place of wisdom. She had hope, despite it all. Despite everything she'd been through before. She had the strength to have hope. If Vi could have hope, then she could, too.

Caitlyn worked her throat to sing.

Day after day, one life…

Vi's eyes crinkled in their corners. Caitlyn squeezed her hand tighter.

Vi dropped the octave, singing the harmony, underneath, supporting Caitlyn's high melody. Their voices growing further apart, only to come together again.

Now it begins, now we start

One hand…

One heart…

They touched foreheads, their voices softening. Both were scared. Scared to be parted. Scared to face the world outside. But it had to be done. They would face the world for each other.

Even death won't part us now…

They kissed, softly, but no less passionate. A promise there.

When they parted, they hugged, holding each other.

"Come see me, tonight," Caitlyn whispered, nuzzling closer in the crook of her shoulder.

Vi nodded, holding her tighter, rubbing a hand on the back of her neck.

Now she had more than one family to protect.

/

"Yo, Caitlyn, te recibo a ti, Violet."

"I, Caitlyn, receive you, Violet."

"En la prosperidad y en la adversidad. Para amarte y respetarte."

"In prosperity and adversity. To love and respect you."

/