There wasn’t a ready-made cure for her diagnosis.
There were treatments, sure: pills and extensive therapy sessions with a woman who looked too young to be the dean of a university, but those weren’t fixing her anymore. Her pills dulled her, they destroyed everything that made her her, and no amount of therapy with a human who could never truly understand her in spite of how much love she gave her would be a long-term fix. Cate needed more, Cate always needed more to fill the void.
She’d spend the night with Luke, sneak off after classes with Andre, and curl up on Indira’s couch when things went wrong with either of them, sometimes both of them. Cate was given touch without hesitation, she was given enough love to fill her up and almost convince her that she was deserving of it. Indira stroked her hair, cupped her face, called her “exceptional” like she knew just how much it would drive Cate crazy.
Indira gave her the love her mother never did after the camping trip. Indira knew what Cate needed and she gave it freely, happily.
At least, she did until Cate's entire world came crashing down around her.