text: It was the day of Lena’s wedding, and she was all smiles. As the sun rose, the room was filled with a pale light that filtered through the gauzy pink curtains. It warmed her bare skin, but not enough to make her want to crawl out from between the soft, silky sheets. They smelled of perfume. Of flowers and the fresh spring air. Of hours of whispered words, and of the heady sweat of their lovemaking on the last night when the stars would shine down on them as two untethered souls. She turned her head slightly at the sound of a soft moan from the other side of the bed. She watched as her love’s breath softened and her eyelids fluttered open to greet the life-changing day. They gazed silently into each other’s eyes, no words powerful enough to say what was in their hearts as they savored these final few moments before the world would come knocking at the door and begin selfishly making its demands. Their fingers laced together, and Lena stared intently at the soft fingertips, marveling at how beautiful the two sets of freshly manicured fingers looked as they lay side-by-side. She spared a quick glance for the diamond glistening on her hand before meeting her love’s soft eyes once again. One more kiss. One more stolen moment. Please, just one more. Hours later, Lena stood nervously in the hallway of the massive church, outside of the thick wooden doors that separated her from her love, her fingers playing nervously with the fragile petals of a pale blue rose. She fidgeted in the too-tight, sparkling white dress. Her mother crossed the hall in a few steps to place a warning hand on hers. “Don’t be nervous, dear,” she whispered with a smile. “I promise that this is the right decision.” With another quick pat on her daughter’s shaking hands, Lena’s mother slipped quietly into the church through the heavy doors, leaving her to her father’s arm. He quickly spared a glance for the golden face of the time piece on his wrist before gesturing subtly to the door. With a shaking breath, blinking back the hot tears that threatened to brim over, she took a small step forward. As the doors opened, she was almost blinded by the overwhelming lights of the church, harshened by the flashing of the photographer’s camera. For a moment, she lost her breath to the cacophony of floral smells that packed a wallop straight through the jewel-encrusted bodice of her dress. There were eyes all around her. Hundreds of eyes, some familiar, some strange, all waiting for her to continue her promenade. Frantically, she looked to the front of the church, desperate for the solace of her love. Finally she found her, standing at the altar in a silky blue dress, and locked on to the only eyes that mattered. She smiled as their gazes met, and Lena felt the other woman’s strength pouring into her, carrying her down the aisle, as all of the other eyes disappeared into the haze of light and perfume. At the front of the church, she poured every bit of her love and devotion into one final glance, before steadfastly tearing her gaze away from those soft, beautiful eyes and facing the solemn scrutiny of her future husband, forcing her lips to maintain a façade of rapture. It was the day of Lena’s wedding, and she was all smiles.