“What's that?"

“*Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away," I quoted.

“We've been through the fire. The bliss of orgasm has passed and the temporary madness has subsided. ALL that's left is you and me, and we're still here, aren't we? We dated; we broke up. We Lost each other for a bit but still found each other again. Our ups and downs to get to this point have made us who we are. These are our roots, now entwined together. I love you, Naimh O'Brien. It's inconceivable that we should ever part. I'm standing at the start with you, hand-in-hand. If we make a misstep and fall for all eternity into the black abyss, I want to fall with you."

Naimh's emerald-green eyes flared at that pronouncement. And then suddenly her taste filled my lips, her scent filled my nose, and my world exploded.

Like a supernova.

My girlfriend and I cuddled in the aftermath of our of lovemaking, my second load still imbedded deep inside her sacred core and not yet leaking back out. Both of us were still panting, grinning shit-eating grins and nuzzling our noses together when the phone rang.

At first, I wanted to ignore it, but a quick check of the display's caller ID told me it was Zofi. It was highly unusual for her to call me on a Saturday afternoon, so with a frown, I reached over to answer the phone.

“Hey, Zofi. What's up?" I asked casually.

“Code Blue," was her response, her voice wavering. She wasn't crying, but she was close, I could tell.

I sat up straight in alarm. Naimh sensed my sudden tension and likewise pitched up on her elbow. And my tension only increased when Zofi explained...

“My mom saw you and Neevie making out in the park.”

The Truth -—

"So who talks first? You talk first? I talk first?"

No, I didn't actually say that. I mean, I thought it, especially given how long Mr. Zelazowski and Mrs. Zelazowska continued to stare at me without speaking. The awkward silence dragged on and on, and finally I steeled my spine and decided to take the initiative.

“Respectfully, I care a great deal about your daughter,” I stated evenly.

“We have a special relationship, but admittedly it is not an exclusive one."

Zofi's mom scowled, Zofi's dad looked thoughtful, but neither of them immediately responded. Neither did Zofi for that matter, who sat beside me holding my hand. I took a deep breath, squeezed my girlfriend's hand, and continued.

“I do apologize for deceiving you. It's not that we wanted to Lie to you, but both Zofi and I understand that our relationship is not a conventional one readily accepted by most parents. We did tell you from the beginning that we were pretty casual, and that we might very well end up going to universities across the country from each other. That part turned out to be true, and given the temporary nature of the relationship, it seemed safer to remain silent, enjoy what time we had left, and ultimately part as friends."

“Is your relationship with this other girl equally casual?" Zofi's mom asked acidly.

“Or is she your true girlfriend and my Zofi your... what is word... Your ‘side piece'?"

“Matka," Zofi exclaimed, a little scandalized.

“Neevie is my friend, you know this."

“Will she be going to Berkeley with him?"

“Well... yes..." Zofi admitted.

“But that's not the point."