A Most Special Occasion

Vera waits on the couch. Alina walks in holding two glasses and hands one over. They smile. Alina points out she’s only nineteen. Vera asks if she really wants to stay in on such a night. Alina grins and says she’d rather keep Vera all to herself. They raise their glasses. Alina toasts to her love, her heart, her best friend. Vera answers with the same devotion. Their lips meet, soft and slow, then they lean back and just look at each other. Alina wonders if a year could really have passed so fast. Vera strokes her hand and admits she never expected to find real love this late, especially not this way. Still, here they are. Alina asks gently if Vera ever feels guilty. Vera’s answer is quiet but sure: their hearts chose each other; they never meant to cause pain. Alina leans closer and asks when Vera first knew this was more than a passing thing. Vera smiles. It hit her that weekend he was away, when she woke up and found Alina beside her. In that quiet moment she just knew. Alina says she has a surprise. Vera closes her eyes. When she opens them again, Alina kneels with an open ring box. Before Vera can speak, she reaches behind the cushion and drops to one knee herself, another ring glinting between her fingers. They stare, breathless. Alina’s hand flies to her mouth. Vera laughs softly, says Alina stole her line. Alina tackles her in a fierce kiss, then pulls back just long enough to say yes, over and over. Vera slides the diamond onto Alina’s finger; Alina does the same for her. Their mouths find each other again, hungrier now, hands sliding over bare skin as clothes fall away. Fingers trace breasts, slip between thighs, and the night deepens into something neither of them will ever forget.