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“I think we could all use some time. I want to do this

properly. I mean, normally. Oh, what’s normal?” Emily said,

and giggled. “What I mean is—”

“I know,” Dani responded softly, and squeezed Emily’s

hand back. “I know what you mean. Like other people do. Not

getting married first, then learning how to care about each

other.”

Emily nodded. “That’s exactly what I meant.”

They were quiet for a few minutes. Dani broke the silence

first. She removed her hand gently from Emily’s, then went to

her room and came back with a small shoebox. She could see

how puzzled Emily was, especially after she removed the lid

and revealed the black-and-white photographs inside.

“I used to go to antique stores,” Dani said. “When I got this

place. Even though I couldn’t really afford much, it was still

fun to look around. I’d buy these photos. I couldn’t believe

they’d sell pictures of other people at first. They’re so old that

all of them are dead now, so it was extra weird. I used to be

kind of affronted by that.”

“It is strange,” Emily admitted, but she peeked over the

edge of the box anyway.

“Obviously, I got over that.” Dani took out a handful of

photos and passed them over. “I used to buy ones of families. I

never inserted myself into th

em or imagined what that could

have looked like for me, but it was nice to think about other

people belonging and being a part of something and being

happy, in their own way, in their own time.”

“Dani…” Emily grasped the photos to her chest. Her eyes

were soft and full of compassion and kindness. “When you say