During the following months Eve focused on identifying and analyzing the factors that had contributed to her own relapse, like being around people who drank and having access to alcohol. She thought that she might someday be ready to be in an environment like that without relapsing, but that right now she wasn’t there yet. She was still quite at the beginning of her journey towards sobriety and knew she would have to learn through trial and error what kind of things worked and didn’t work for her. She was glad and grateful that she had such a wonderful support system, with Irene, her parents, Audrey and now the meetings. She knew she was privileged to be able to have so many resources available to her and it made her feel very lucky amongst all the negative thoughts that sometimes crept in. Eve wasn’t a gloomy person by nature, so she tried not to dwell too long on feelings of exhaustion, guilt or despair, instead she wanted to look at the bright side and do her best. 

.

Irene soon got an offer to open up a boutique and atelier in a different city and Eve thought this was an amazing opportunity for them to move out of their parents’ houses and to move closer to Audrey and their other friends. Eve also thought a change of scenery would be good for her and Irene agreed. They had wanted to move in together for some time already and it was quite frankly strange that they hadn’t done it sooner. What had stopped them before was the uncertainty in their relationship as they had broken up many times, but now they felt more stable and secure. There was an unspoken understanding between them that they would never break up again, that this was forever, finally. 

The preparations of moving to a different city were comprehensive, but they had a lot of help. They were excited for this new chapter in their lives and they knew they would be okay whatever happened. They had been through so much together, they strongly believed they could weather any storm together from now on. 

When they had moved, Irene spent a lot of time setting up her business and Eve helped. Irene hired Eve to work the register at the boutique while she herself focused more on sewing and designing. They both knew it was a temporary solution as Eve had yet to figure out what she wanted to do, but it was better than her not having anything to do, plus they got to spend more time together this way. 

Soon though, Eve got more and more into songwriting and singing, she even took professional lessons and she felt very inspired. She started posting her singing online and steadily grew a following befitting a newcomer indie singer. She wrote many songs for Irene and about Irene and about her love for Irene. Irene really was her muse, she explained. Things were going well. 

.

“I hear your singing everyday, but I’m still amazed every time.”, Irene said in wonder while applauding, as Eve finished a beautiful rendition of a ballad in the karaoke room they were spending their date night in. 

“Thank you, my love.”, Eve said with a wide grin and then kissed Irene as she joined her on the bench. She then took a bottle of water and gulped some down, which was needed after putting on quite the show for her girlfriend. “You’re not half-bad yourself, show me what you’ve got, baby!”, Eve urged, playfully slapping her girlfriends ass as she got up to perform. 

“Not half-bad, you say? Let me show you how it’s done!”, Irene laughed as she grabbed the microphone and went to choose a song. Irene was no professional singer, but she liked singing and listening to Eve sing, so the date was fun for both of them. 

They serenaded each other with beautiful love songs, then threw in some fun pop hits and Irene even attempted a rap song or two to both of their delight as they couldn’t stop giggling at her awkward flow and fumbled lyrics. 

.

It had been a year since their trip to the mountains. A lot had happened since and there had been a lot of change in their lives, mostly for the better. It was spring and the sunshine was finally warm enough that you could go outside without freezing. It was a stunning day, not a cloud in the sky and the trees and flowers were waking up after their slumber during the cold months. Eve and Irene were sitting outside at a quaint cafe on a small street, enjoying the good weather and some delicious food. The street was busy as everyone had had the same idea as them, to go out and enjoy the spring day, but it was cozy and they liked watching the different people that passed by and just chatting with each other. 

Eve had a pen in her hand, she had jotted down some lyrics she had thought of on a napkin as they sat there together, she looked lost in thought, but content. Irene smiled softly as she looked at her girlfriend, finding her focused expression unreasonably cute and not wanting to disturb her she sipped her coffee in silence, letting her own thoughts wander. Irene was focused on an adorable dog that had appeared with its owner at the table next to them, when she felt Eve take her hand. She looked over to see her girlfriend studying her face. 

“What?”, Irene asked softly. 

“Nothing. Just admiring your lovely face.”, Eve answered, flashing a grin. 

Irene chuckled. “Well, take a picture, it’ll last longer.”, Irene joked and playfully posed for her girlfriend. Eve played along, positioning her fingers in mid air as if they were holding a camera and snapping imaginary photos, as they both giggled. 

They were leisurely chatting about this or that, when Irene picked up the pen Eve had used and drew a heart on Eve’s napkin next to her lyrics. 

“Even just a simple heart like that and it looks like art.”, Eve commented. 

Irene smiled and took Eve’s hand and drew a heart on the back of it. Eve chuckled and took the pen from her and drew a matching heart on Irene’s hand. They smiled and Irene once again took the pen and started drawing something more intricate on Eve’s wrist. Eve looked on quietly, waiting to see what masterpiece it would become. 

“A glacier lily?”, Eve asked when Irene was done drawing. The delicate drawing of Irene’s favorite flower looked wonderful on Eve’s wrist. 

“Mm. Do you like it?”, Irene asked, but she didn’t need to, it was obvious that Eve did, she was smiling thinking of their trip to the mountains and of their memories together.

“I love it.”, Eve said, while not being able to take her eyes off it, admiring it thoroughly. “I love you.”, Eve added and looked at Irene who said those same three words back.

“You know, I really like its meaning, the glacier lily’s, that is.”, Irene said after a while, “It signals spring in Native American cultures and symbolizes renewal and in some ways also resilience. Its brief lifespan makes you think of the cycle of life and seizing the moment.”. Eve thought a lot about what Irene had said, and about her own thoughts and associations she had to the flower. She felt she could identify with its symbolic meanings and that having it close to her reminded her of Irene and her love for her. She was still pondering it when they left the cafe, and as they window shopped and popped into shops on the street. They were about to walk by a tattoo parlor when she stopped, Irene looked back at her questioningly before Eve explained that she was thinking of getting the flower tattooed. At first Irene protested, explaining that she would have drawn it more carefully if she knew it would be on her girlfriend’s arm permanently, but Eve managed to convince her and they stepped into the parlor and it just so happened that they accepted walk-ins as the drawing was small enough. While they were there Irene also wanted a tattoo that reminded her of Eve, so she had her write her favorite line from the first song Eve had written for her on her arm. She thought it was even more meaningful that way, to have it in Eve’s handwriting. They both left the tattoo place feeling more connected and deeply in love. These signs of devotion were permanently on their bodies, connecting them forever through their love for each other. 

The End.