Kate felt hurt. She put her hands in her pockets and walked quietly beside him, starting at the path, as he talked of his own situation. Then as he finished, she figured he was trying to tell her he was in the same boat. It weighed on her. She stayed quiet for a while.

They had passed St. Martha's and the Abbey and were walking along the cliff now. She stared out across the sparkling sea. Perhaps she should go back to school... No, it was too late for that now. She felt her eyes burn and blinked quickly up against the wind. "Ye broke mum's heart."