In the early morning hours, just before sunrise, Shane sits alone on the patio, the hood of her sweatshirt pulled over her head and her sleeves pulled over her hands. She had left the comfort of her bed and the warmth of Molly’s body to clear her mind. She had been unable to sleep due to the excitement that today would bring.

In the two weeks since Phyllis’s commitment ceremony, Shane’s thoughts had revolved around two things, the student gallery show and more importantly, asking Molly to marry her. Her mind raced tonight as she thought of the rush she would feel seeing her photographs on the walls of the gallery. Her heart thumped fast and hard as she thought about what she has planned to say to Molly tonight as she unveiled her work. She had rehearsed what she would say over and over in her head, but still feared that she would not be able to get it all out when the moment came. Taking a deep breath, she tries in vain to exhale all of her worries and fears. Just as she is about to give up and go back to bed, she senses someone approaching behind her. Turning around, she sees Molly groggily walking towards her, wearing nothing but her panties and a T-shirt, yawning and rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

“Baby, you didn’t have to get up,” Shane says, standing up and crossing the distance between them. She wraps Molly in her arms and hugs her tight.

Nuzzling her face against Shane’s neck, Molly says, “You okay, babe? Can’t sleep?”

Shane pulls back and nods her head. She takes Molly’s hand, says, “Come here,” and leads her over to the chaise lounge. Shane sits down, with her legs straddling the chair, leans back and pulls Molly down to her. After unzipping her oversized hoodie, Shane pulls Molly to her chest and wraps the sweatshirt around her. She holds her close and kisses her shoulder.

“Why can’t you sleep?” Molly asks, reaching across her chest to touch Shane’s face. “Nervous about the show tonight?”

Just barely lifting her lips from Molly’s skin, Shane says, “Yeah, a little. More excited than anything.”

“It’s a big night for you. You should be excited.”