The accident had happened when Helena was fourteen. Up until then, Helena had had a normal childhood. Her mother, an English teacher, her father, a neurological research scientist, and her older brother Charles, a general nuisance.

She and her father had a particular bond. He was the one who had done simple science experiments with her in their basement when she was young. He was the one who had first taught her the scientific method and Euclid's proof of the infinitude of primes. He had always been strange and awkward, but loving and devoted to Helena.

The accident itself wasn't even particularly interesting. A car had swerved to avoid a pothole, not seeing the pedestrian who had just stepped forward to hail a cab. Quick. And the father that she had known was gone. The irony of the entire incident was not lost on Helena. Her father, the man who researched and studied brains had fallen prey to his own. Other neurologists began to study him, began to study his behavioral changes, the deterioration of his memory which became worse as the months and years went on. He became reckless, spending thousands of dollars on things that they didn't need, lashing out at his teenage children, acting coldly toward his wife, spiraling downward.

Everything that they had known had come toppling down.

While Helena was talking, Myka had leaned her up against the closet door and was sitting cross-legged in front of her, listening to the story. Helena had talked about her father for what seemed like hours, but Myka was rapt with details Helena finally felt ready to share.

"I adjusted because I had to, Myka. But I started tracking the research that the doctors were doing on my father. Are still doing on my father. They keep hitting dead ends, but I just know that more can be done. I came here to study because I read about Dr. Frederic, she's been running trials on patients with the same sort of circumstances as my dad. I know that he can return to his former self. And I'm going to be the one who does it. I'm going to be the one who fixes him."

Helena's eyes shone brightly with determination and Myka was trying not to show her skepticism. It wasn't that Myka didn't believe in Helena. She did. She thought that she was miraculous. But they were so young and the kind of thing that Helena was talking about… well, it made Myka's head hurt even thinking about it.

Helena was looking at Myka expectantly. Now that she had finally shared, she wanted to know what she thought. But Myka was at a loss. "I'm so sorry, Helena."

Helena stared back in shock and agitation. "That's it? That's all you have to say?"

"Well, I don't know what to say, Helena. I'm trying to process. And I don't know anything about neuroscience."

Helena grabbed Myka's hands suddenly, "I know, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to lash out at you." She sighed, raising herself up on her knees and hugging Myka closely. "I shouldn't have gotten so angry at you telling people about my father, but I hold him very close to my heart. I'd just… prefer if we kept this between us."

"Of course, Helena. And I am sorry. I'll try to be more conscious of your feelings in the future." Myka looked down and kind of laughed at herself. "God, do you hear us? We are doing so much 'ladies-who-love-ladies' processing right now."

"Yes, I'm not sure I know what that means, but yes…" Helena laughed as well, and her tone lifted the mood in the room. Their collective meltdown felt like it happened ages ago and, if anything, they felt more bonded than ever. It had been a rather ugly night, but not damagingly so.

Myka started to get back up to climb into bed, a much more comfortable spot for further talks, and she pulled Helena up behind her. But before she got in, she was struck with a thought and turned suddenly to look at Helena, grabbing her by the shoulders. "Oh my God, we said 'I love you.' ... You love me?"

"Yes, we did. And yes... I do. I'm sorry, has that not been obvious since the first time I shook your hand? I do apologize, I was trying to be transparent." Helena grinned and kissed the corner of Myka's mouth before climbing into bed and stretching out, opening her arms for Myka to join her. "Funny." Myka said as she nestled into Helena's chest, leaving light kisses behind as Helena put her arms around her girl.

They were both off in their own worlds of thought when Myka interrupted their collective solitude with a question. "Helena… do you believe in providence?"

"What do you mean, darling?" Just like normal, Helena was running her fingers absently through Myka's curls.

"I don't necessarily mean like, divine intervention, but, the idea that things happen the way that they happen so that we're lead to the place we're supposed to be." Myka felt like she was on the verge of something.

"I suppose I've never thought of it much." Helena mused.

"It's such a strange turn of events that led us to one another, don't you think?"

"I suppose it does seem sort of random."

"No, but that's my point. I don't think it is." Myka raised herself onto her elbow and looked Helena in the eye. "It wasn't random, it wasn't happenstance. It was providence."

"Like Anne and Gilbert?" Helena perked up.

A wide grin appeared on Myka's face. "Yes, just like Anne and Gilbert. Except better because I never broke a chalkboard over your head."

"Except worse, because, you know, my current life situation." Helena argued.

"I don't know Helena, Anne was an orphan." Myka was firm in her position.

They stared at each other for a moment, Helena squinting her eyes and Myka waiting patiently for a response.

"Alright, the point goes to you, but I feel like I could have won that had I tried a little harder."

"I doubt it." Myka smirked.

"We'll pick this up tomorrow, then." Helena muttered as she placed a kiss on Myka's lips that made her feel like, yes, in fact, every moment in her life was purposely set up to lead to this moment with this girl. All of the struggles that had come already and all of the struggles that would come in the future were what life handed to them, sure.

But the struggles in the past had led them to this moment, so they couldn't be all bad. And the struggles in the future? they would have each other to brace onto for those.

"Good night, Myka."

"Good night, Helena."

"I love you, darling."

"I love you too… H.G."

"Good God, why did I ever tell you my middle name?"

And after fits of laughter, they fell asleep. Just as they would every night. Together.