"Steph?" I call, my voice a little hesitant as I stand outside her door. She pokes her head out, raising a brow in curiosity.

"What's up, Els?" she hums, giving me her full attention.

I swallow, nerves bubbling up in my chest. "Can I talk to you?"

Steph's expression softens instantly, and without a word, she reaches out her hand for me. I take it, and she pulls me gently into her room. The space is cozy and impeccably neat, just like Steph herself—everything has its place, her calm energy filling the room.

She leads me over to her bed, pulling me onto it beside her and draping the blanket she'd been sitting on over both of us. There's a sense of safety with Steph, like I can say anything and she'll listen without judgment. But even so, this conversation feels heavier than anything we've talked about before.

We sit there for a moment, the quiet between us comforting as I try to find the right words.

"What's on your mind?" she asks softly, turning her body slightly toward mine, her eyes warm and attentive.

I fiddle with the edge of the blanket, feeling the soft fabric between my fingers. "I've been thinking about... moving out," I start, my voice quieter than I intended. "And maybe moving in with Caitlin."

Steph doesn't respond right away. Her eyes search mine for a second before she nods slowly. "I see," she says, her tone gentle and understanding. "Are you sure you're ready for that?"

I hesitate, the words catching in my throat. "I... I think I am," I finally say, my voice a little firmer. "It's not that I don't love living here with you. You've been incredible, and I don't know what I would've done without you these past 2 years. You've helped me through so much, Steph, and I'll never be able to thank you enough for that."

Steph gives me a small smile, her hand finding mine under the blanket. "Els, you don't have to thank me. I'm always here for you, no matter what. You know that."

"I do," I say, feeling a lump in my throat. "That's why this is so hard to say. You've been like... like a big sister to me. You've made me feel at home here. I just..."

"You're ready to build your own home with Caitlin," she finishes softly, her eyes kind but knowing.

I nod, feeling the weight of her words settle over me. "Yeah. I think I'm ready for that."

Steph's hand tightens around mine, a silent reassurance. "You and Caitlin have something special. If you're ready, then I'm happy for you, Els. You deserve to be happy."

I bite my lip, the overwhelming sense of gratitude threatening to spill over as tears gather in my eyes. "It's just... I don't want you to think I'm leaving because I don't want to be around you or because I don't appreciate everything you've done for me. I wouldn't have gotten through everything without you, Steph."

Her smile widens, and she shakes her head gently. "Els, I know you're not leaving because of that. You're not running away from anything—you're moving toward something, and that's what matters. You've grown so much, and I'm proud of you for it. And you'll still see me around all the time, whether you like it or not," she adds with a teasing wink.

I laugh through the tears that have started to spill, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. "I guess I can't get rid of you that easily, huh?"

"Not a chance," Steph grins, wiping a stray tear from my cheek. "Besides, Caitlin's not far. We'll still be teammates, and you'll always have me when you need someone to lean on. You'll never be alone."

I nod, taking a deep breath as I feel the final pieces of doubt fade away. "Thank you," I whisper, squeezing her hand tightly. "For everything."

Steph pulls me into a hug, wrapping her arms around me with a warmth that makes me feel safe, like everything is going to be okay. "You're welcome, Els," she whispers into my hair. "You've got this."

We stay like that for a while, wrapped up in the moment, and I know deep down that whatever happens next, I'll always have Steph by my side—whether I'm living under the same roof or not.

Dear Mum,

I'm moving out of Steph's apartment. I'm really going to miss it. I'm going to miss her, but as she said, I'll still see her at training and we'll only be 20 minutes away from one another.

It's bittersweet, really. This place has felt like home to me, filled with laughter, late-night talks, and a sense of belonging that I've longed for. Steph has always been there, cheering me on and guiding me through the ups and downs. She believed in me when I didn't even believe in myself. I hope I can carry that support with me as I step into this new chapter of my life.

I'm excited about the future, about carving out my own space and making it my own. But I also know that no matter where I go, the memories we made here will always be a part of me. I'll take all those lessons and love with me as I chase my dreams and continue to grow.

Thank you for watching over me, Mum. I hope I'm making you proud. I'll always carry you with me, in every goal I score and every challenge I face. Until next time.

Love you always,
Elena

Moving day had finally arrived, and the apartment was a mess of boxes, bags, and half-packed belongings. Steph had been helping me tape up the final box, her usual banter keeping the mood light even though we both knew things were about to change.

As I walked down the hall toward the lift, I heard Caitlin's familiar voice from Steph's doorway. She'd come up to grab the last of my things, her voice carrying that warmth that always made my chest tighten in the best way.

"Steph, I promise, Elena's in good hands," Caitlin said softly, and I froze, hiding just out of view.

Steph let out a small laugh, but I could hear the sincerity in her response. "I know she is. But you'd better take care of her, Cait."

"I will. She means the world to me," Caitlin replied, her voice low but steady.

My heart skipped a beat, and I felt a flutter in my stomach. I peeked around the corner and saw Caitlin standing there, smiling at Steph, with her arms full of my things. The sight of it made me feel a rush of love and gratitude—knowing that Caitlin not only loved me but cared enough to make sure Steph knew I was safe with her.

Before I could stop myself, I cleared my throat and stepped out. "You know I'm right here, right?"

Both of them turned to look at me, Steph with a smirk and Caitlin with a slightly sheepish grin. "Oh hey," Caitlin said, her cheeks flushing just a bit. "Caught me."

I couldn't help but laugh as I walked up to her. "I heard everything."

We had just arrived at Caitlin's place—or rather, our place now—with the last of my things. The apartment was already filled with half-unpacked boxes from the first trip, and the living room was a chaotic mess of clothes, books, and random kitchen supplies that hadn't found their place yet.

Caitlin set down a box marked "fragile" in the corner and turned to me, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "So, where should we start? Or... should we just leave it all like this and live like we're in a storage unit?"

I raised an eyebrow, crossing my arms. "Oh no, you're not getting out of this that easily."

She grinned, stepping closer. "Or maybe... we should take a break."

"A break? We've barely started!" I laughed, but before I could protest further, Caitlin lunged forward, grabbing me by the waist and pulling me onto the couch, sending one of the boxes tumbling to the floor.

"You're impossible!" I shrieked, laughing as she pinned me down, her fingers ghosting along my sides.

"I know," she teased, leaning down until her forehead rested against mine. Her hands, once playful, now stilled as she looked into my eyes, her expression softening. "But I'm your impossible."

I smiled, my heart melting at the sight of her. "Yeah, you are."

The moment lingered, and before I knew it, her lips brushed against mine, tender and sweet. The room, with all its chaos, faded away, leaving just the two of us in the softness of that kiss. It wasn't about the boxes or the apartment—it was about this, the start of something new, together.

When we finally pulled back, I could still feel the warmth of her touch lingering. "Okay," Caitlin said, her voice a bit breathless, "maybe we should unpack a little more before we end up sitting in a pile of boxes."

I giggled, sitting up and brushing a stray hair behind my ear. "Deal."

We were halfway through unpacking when I noticed Caitlin struggling with one of the heavier boxes. I watched her try to lift it, her muscles tensing as she gave it a solid heave, but it barely budged.

I crossed my arms and leaned against the doorframe, smirking. "Need help?"

She glanced at me with a mock glare. "I've got this."

I laughed, walking over to her. "Sure you do. How about we lift it together?"

With both of us lifting, we managed to haul the box into the kitchen. But as soon as we set it down, Caitlin, being Caitlin, bumped into me playfully with her hip, sending me stumbling back into a pile of clothes.

I let out a small yelp, and before I knew it, Caitlin was on top of me again, her laughter filling the room. "You're really bad at this whole 'moving in' thing," she teased.

I rolled my eyes, unable to stop laughing myself. "I'm not the one who knocked over half the room!"

We sat there for a moment, surrounded by piles of clothes and unpacked things, just enjoying the mess and the laughter. Then Caitlin leaned in again, kissing me softly on the forehead before whispering, "I love you, Els. Mess and all."

I felt a warmth bloom in my chest, and I smiled up at her. "I love you too, Cait."

By the time we'd unpacked the last box, the apartment had started to feel more like home. There were still things to organize, shelves to fill, and pictures to hang, but the space already felt different—warmer, more lived in.

I stood in the middle of the living room, looking around at everything we'd done. "It actually looks... good."

Caitlin came up behind me, wrapping her arms around my waist and resting her chin on my shoulder. "It does, doesn't it?"

I leaned back into her, feeling the warmth of her body against mine. "I can't believe we actually did it."

"Of course we did," she murmured into my ear. "We make a good team."

I turned my head slightly, meeting her eyes. "Yeah, we do."

Caitlin's arms tightened around me, and for a moment, we just stood there, taking it all in—the apartment, the quiet, the fact that this was ours now. It wasn't just a place—it was the start of something bigger. A home. Our home.

She pressed a soft kiss to my neck, and I felt myself relax completely, every worry or bit of stress melting away. This was where I was meant to be. With her.