Teach Me

Making A Difference

Ash played in the yard, as they all talked. Most of it was small talk at first. Who works where, where they grew up... then they started going into childhood a bit. Lena is a therapist, so conversation came easy for her. Y/N felt at ease. She thought for sure she'd be a nervous wreck but as time went on, they really started getting along.

She could see how the two remained friends because to be honest, so far it was hard to not love Lena to piece's. You'd think there'd be a thousand insecurities with a person like this, worries about never measuring up even but she didn't feel those. She was secure in her relationship.

Y/N was proud how far they've come. She went from being paranoid that Cate was cheating on her (due to mostly her own fears and miscommunication) to sitting there with Cate, and her ex wife, having dinner and talking about their childhood with her.

She realized a while ago that Cate was not cheating when she said she loved Lena on the phone but seeing the two of them being friends, seeing their dynamic... it made so much more sense, her saying it. She felt silly for ever thinking there was more between the two of them.

They were having margaritas at this time in the evening. Cate was three in, and laughing at everything. She wasn't drunk but she sure was adorable tipsy. Lena had a few herself but it seemed like she was handling her liquor better. She just laughed at Cate, who was laughing at everything being said.

Y/N only had two. She cut herself off because she might have to drive them home later. Ash ran up to them. "Okay, so when are we talking about climate change?" He raised his eyebrow at Y/N. "Let's talk!" She said, smiling.

They sat there for about an hour, talking in depth about not only climate change but about how the fashion industry is ruining the environment, specially fast fashion. He told her about how he only thrifts his clothes and he always recycles. It was a very in depth conversation.

Every now and then, she'd look at Cate who was smiling ear to ear, proud of the boy she's raising. It was adorable seeing Cate be a mother. She had never saw that side of her. Just when she thought she couldn't love her more, Cate would present another side to her endless well of depth and prove to her that it was possible and that she did love her more.

Y/N loved this woman with her whole heart. She had never experienced this kind of intimacy, closeness and security with someone before. She began to wonder what her life was even like before her. How could she ever have been without her? She would never know.

Isn't it crazy how you can go your whole life without someone, the majority of it even but once you find this one person, you could know them a day, a few years or months even... but isn't it crazy how you can go so long without them but once you're with them... you can't really make sense of your life without them or even before them?

It's crazy and a bit scary how much impact one person can have. Ash was talking to her about how one person could impact the world and to be honest, Y/N had never thought that before but now that he was saying it... it made sense because this one person impacted her life in the most extreme way, right?

So, why couldn't one person make all the difference in the world? Why couldn't one person make an impact? Make change? Why couldn't one person make a difference? The truth is, they can and Cate was living proof.

If it's one persons life or a thousand... you can make a change and Y/N was just realizing that. It's funny how someone in the education field never thought that way before. Then she thought about all of the lives she's changed and never even knew it.

Think about it, how many people you affect and you have no clue. Why? Because not everyone tells you you've made an impact and sometimes people don't realize you did but you do. Just one person, then that next person goes on and the next, then the next. It's a chain reaction.

So, yes... one person could absolutely change your life. One person could make all of the difference. It was a crazy revelation to have but thanks to Cate and Ash... Y/N had it. She agreed with Ash to do what she could. They talked about all the ways they could make a difference in the environment.

Y/N and Ash came up with an idea for her class that involved recycling. Then Ash begged Cate to let him go on a protest for a local environmental thing. She told him he must be older to do so and he got agitated by that and threw a fit. Still a child... a very mature child but a child still. Y/N tried not to laugh as Cate argued with him.

Then Cate decided it was time for bed for Ash and she took him up. This left Lena and Y/N downstairs, while Cate put Ash to bed. There was a silence for a moment, not an awkward one but a lack of knowing what to say.

"It's nice seeing Cate happy" Lena said, breaking the silence. Y/N smiled. "She's struggled with that and... it's nice seeing her back to her old self" Lena said. "You fit in nicely" She said. "Thank you" Y/N said sincerely. "She's never brought anyone around Ash" she informed.

"Really? Never?" Y/N questioned. "Not before you" She smiled. "You're important to her... she loves you" Lena said. "I can see it in her eyes" she said, smiling. Y/N blushed. "Thank you..." Lena said. "For what?" Y/N cocked her head.

"For... making her happy, showing up, staying..." Lena elaborated. "I... felt guilty for years for breaking the family up" Lena said. "It's... just refreshing knowing... seeing that it worked out... that she could be happy again" Lena said.

"I love her... More than I ever could have imagined loving anyone" Y/N said truthfully. "I know... I can see it. It's all over your face. Both of your faces" Lena smiled sweetly. "Cate deserved someone that could make her shine... and you do that" she said.

"Thank you. That genuinely does mean so much..." Y/N said. "I speak nothing but truth" Lena winked, pouring another margarita. "I believe that" Y/N laughed. "Thank you by the way... for welcoming me the way you are" Y/N said.

Lena just raised her glass and Y/N hers. "To co parenting!" Lena said. "To co parenting!" Y/N raised her glass. Cate came back down and looked at the two of them. "What are we toasting to?" She laughed. "None of your business" Lena laughed. Cate looked at Y/N.

"None of your business" Y/N shrugged. "Not even 15 minutes I've been gone and you're already conspiring against me..." she joked. They both laughed and shared a knowing look. Cate sighed and smiled, amused at them.