New Year's Day By Sidney Heiges

As the rest of the group start to file out of the apartment following the New Year’s eve party, Sara helps June pick up glasses and bottles littered around the room as if they were living together. Sara stops June when they both end up in the kitchen.

“I have to go,” Sara says quietly.

June sighs as she puts the half empty wine bottle on the counter. She glances around the corner at the remaining people in the apartment, Alex who’s taking off her shoes and leaning on Sam for support. She reaches down and presses a gentle kiss to Sara’s lips.

“First kiss of 2018,” Sara whispers, her arms resting on June’s waist.

“I wish I could stay,” she starts to rock gently back and forth.

“Me too,” June sighs, leaning her forehead on Sara’s. Their hands naturally find each other, June running her thumb over Sara’s knuckles. Neither of them speak for a while, just soaking in the other's presence.

“Sara, are you ready to go?” Alex shouts from across the room, much too loud for the intimate moment the two were having.

“That's your cue...” June whispers disappointedly with one last kiss.

The two exit the kitchen, dropping each other’s hands. June stands next to Sara just close enough for the backs of their hands to ‘accidentally’ brush against each other. She watches as her family make their way out of the penthouse, the women carrying their high heels out the door.

“Sar, you coming?” Alex manages out, still leaning against Sam for support.

“Yeah one second,” Sara turns to June and smiles, the two exchange an awkward

hug in place of a kiss.

“I love you,” she whispers, tugging at June’s hand.

“I love you too. Text me when you get home,” June whispers back. She forces herself to let go of Sara’s hand, watching her love walk away. Sara turns around in the elevator, smiling fondly at June as the doors close. She smiles back.

June stares at the closed elevator doors before looking around at the giant mess that had been made by the party. Glitter and forgotten polaroid pictures still littering the ground, candles almost through, the wax spilling over and onto the floor. June bends down to pick a polaroid up. It’s of Sara taking a selfie with the group in the background, but it’s a little blurry. June smiles and puts it on the counter. As the room gets cleaned up, June gets a text from Sara, saying she’s in an Uber on the way home.

Sara - 1:03 Jan. 1 2018

I’m in an Uber. I’ll text when I get home.

Love you

Me - 1:03 Jan. 1 2018

Kay. Love you too

June puts her phone down and gets a broom out, sweeping up the glitter on the floor. When she slumps into bed 30 minutes later, she falls asleep within minutes.

______

June wakes to the feeling of sun on her face. She stretches her arms and hits someone

in the face. She opens her eyes, and sees a slightly disgruntled Sara.

“Sorry,” June mumbles.

“Hmm,” Sara groans.

June feels something and a nudge on her side.

“Coffee?” Sara asks. June nods and sits up, opening her eyes.

“Thank you,” June takes a sip of warm coffee, just the way she likes it.

“Thanks Babe,” June leans on Sara’s shoulder, watching the city, already bustling and moving.

Sara sits in the moment and realizes how lucky she is. She looks down at June who is zoned out looking out the window of their bedroom. Sara wants to hold on to these memories, wants them engraved into her mind so that even if she slips into another coma, this is the only thing that she will remember. The slow mornings with June, or the New Year’s Eve parties with their friends. When Sara thinks about her coma she remembers losing her memories for a month, even forgetting who her best friend was. She remembers the weird feeling that she knew the person standing in front of her, their voice comforting and familiar but not knowing why. She shudders at the thought of June becoming someone she doesn't recognize.

“June?” Sara whispers.

“Yes, darling?” June looks up.

“If I go into another coma...” Sara stutters, “please don’t give up on me.”

“Oh, Sara,” June puts her coffee down on the nightstand and snuggles closer, her

warm hand sneaking under Sara’s shirt.

“I won’t. I promise,” her thumb running over the shallow ridges of Sara’s ribs. “Were you thinking about when you lost your memories?” June asks. Sara nods, leaning into her.

“I will always be here to restore your memories. I promise. Even then, I’ll make you fall in love with me again,” June reassures her.

“And yes, you will still be gay, I don’t doubt that,” she says with a smile.

“Oh, no. I doubt one could take away my gay,” Sara says confidently.

“No doubt about it,” June smiles up at Sara, their lips meeting.