Before the ILY’s tho… 

 (Sherlock meta by heart-knows-no-shame)

I was too busy crying over the “I love you” to process this bit of the scene, but then somehow I starting thinking about it earlier today and couldn’t wait to get home to talk about the moment Sherlock realizes, it’s Molly.

He had already analyzed the coffin and it’s specifications, he knew all the criteria, but then when they added that it was someone who loves him, John went right to Irene but Sherlock, he knew…

And even more than he knew, he had to admit it that he knew…Molly Hooper is in love with him.

When it comes to the idea of “love”, for Sherlock, it is simply that. An idea. One that can be pushed aside and ignored. And even more than that, the idea that someone loves him, well I’m sure that just seems ridiculous to him, admire him yes, be in enamored by him, of course, but to truly love him, he’ll just laugh it off as an infatuation. But he can’t do that with Molly, [because] he knows, and honestly he figured it out quite a bit ago.

But now he has to face this, really face it, and get her to admit it, which he knows is cruel, he knows it’s going to hurt her, and he hates it, but he does it, to save her life.

And I also really love John’s “No.” because he just caught up with all that thought process that Sherlock just went through and subsequently Sherlock answers back with a stern “Yes.” and stares right at John because it’s what has to be done.

Sherlock probably feels like he would have rather lived out his days side stepping Molly’s affections because he feels he can’t offer her true love or happiness that should come with it, because he probably doesn’t think he knows how, that’s where Sherlock still has a long way to go. But this scene, this entire episode, was absolutely a step in the right direction towards a happier and healthier Sherlock, and maybe even, Sherlolly.