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On a warm 29th June 2024 morning, Eve returns home after nipping to the Minute Mart. Toilet roll tucked under one arm, the milk still cold in her hand, and the unmistakable sound of Suki swearing in Punjabi echoed down the stairs.
Eve feels that familiar knot in her stomach. After everything her soulmate’s been through, she doesn’t need much to know when something’s off - especially when that particular tone creeps into her voice. Suki might think Eve doesn’t catch it, but she forgets that Eve knows her better than she knows herself. A thud snaps Eve out of her thoughts.
[Suki]: “You little shit” A yell comes from the bedroom.
[Eve]: “Babe?... Suki love?” she says in a worried tone.
[Suki]: “In the bedroom!” she answers.
[Eve]: “Okay”
Eve quickly puts the groceries away then bolts up the stairs two at a time and she finds Suki at her vanity staring blankly like she’s zoned out into the mirror - already all glam ready for Pride. Eve can’t help but smile a little when she notices Suki painted a little lesbian flag on her left cheek and can’t help but feel so proud of her.
Eve walks over to her and wraps her arms around Suki giving her a comforting squeeze from behind.
[Eve]: “Areet, fitty” kiss on the cheek
Suki jumps out of her skin
[Eve]: “Oh sorry love. I didn’t mean to make you jump” she crouches down
[Suki]: “It’s alright, I was miles away” She kisses Eve back
[Eve]: “You okay? I heard some… colourful vocabulary on my way in”
[Suki]: “Oh.. yeah… I may have banged my head on the vanity trying to grab the lid from my mascara off the floor. But it’s fine…” she says clearly, not convincingly.
[Suki]: “Where did you sneak off to anyway? I didn’t hear the door go.”
[Eve]: “Just grabbed some milk - and remembered we were low on bog roll so I grabbed that too.” She smiles. “On my way back I spotted Bernie sitting on Arthur’s bench. She gave me the evils from a distance… weird kid, all I did was a polite wave.”
Suki silently sighs and brushes off any thoughts about last Christmas. She squeezes Eve’s hand, which is still resting on her shoulder.
[Suki]: “Forget her, we’ve got to get ready if we’re gonna make the tube”
She picks up the mascara lid and sets it down on the vanity.
[Eve]: “We’ve got enough time babe” checks her watch “It’s only 10:15am. The main parade doesn't start until midday” she says, squeezing Suki’s hand back.
[Suki]: She sighs “I just want to get there at a good time and be able to get to the front” she says while looking down.
[Eve]: Gently lifts Suki’s chin back up with her finger and lightly rubs her thumb on her chin “You won’t miss a thing, okay?”
Suki nods slowly
[Suki]: “I’m just a bit nervous. This’ll be my first pride.. since coming out” she says softly.
Eve cups her face.
[Eve]: Kiss “You” kiss “will” kiss “be” kiss “fine” kiss
Suki's eyes glistening and their foreheads are together like magnets.
[Eve]: “...And I’m so proud of you” she gives Suki a deeper kiss.
[Suki]: “Yeah?” she says, her tone lowering as she wraps both of her arms around Eve’s neck.
[Eve]: “Yeah” her voice matching her tone as she lands her hands on Suki’s waist.
Suki giggles softly with a teasing glint that catches Eve off guard. Eve blushes.
Just as Eve leans in but Suki stops her with a finger to her lips
[Suki]: “We still need to get ready.” She says, smirking.
[Eve]: “Fineee,” she says playfully.
————————————————————-
After many flirty distractions, they’re finally ready and on their way to Soho Pride.
Suki wears her new white rainbow lace-trim eyelet top, tucked into her tight black trousers, finished off with her classic black heels. She planned to wear her hair up in her signature beehive, but today… she was like “heck it” and lets her hair down, those delicious locks flowing free.
Eve’s dressed in her bold blue leopard-zebra print blouse tucked into black trousers, her new rainbow shoes which she bought at the market the previous day - adding a perfect pop of colour as well as some plain white socks with a tiny rainbow printed on it.
————————————————————-
They arrived on time and enjoyed watching the parade, cuddling while waving at floats and marchers. Suki surprises herself - where she expected panic, she finds joy. Eve couldn’t be more proud!
With time to spare before the main stage line up, they pop in a nearby bar for a quick drink. It wasn’t really busy since it was only the middle of the afternoon. The air was vibrating with music, but nothing too loud, enough to have a boogie. The smell of cocktails quickly surrounds their noses.
[Suki]: “Just going to pop to the loo”
[Eve]: “No worries, I’ll get drinks in.”
Suki gives a quick peck then heads off to the loo. Eve leaning casually against the bar, observing the atmosphere around her.
The barman comes back around the back.
[Barman]: “Hiya, what can I get you?”
[Eve]: “Hiya mate. Can I get a beer for me and a large brandy for my wife?”
Eve pays for the drinks
[Barman]: “Thanks” he says eyeing her curiously
[Eve]: “What?” she asked, concerned. “Do I have something on my face?” she rubs her mouth self-consciously.
[Barman]: “No no. You just look very familiar.”
[Eve]: “You do too… Maybe a night out years ago?” she smiles. “I’m Eve. You?”
[Hyper]: “Rob. But my mates call me Hyper”
They shake each other’s hands.
[Hyper]: “You didn’t happen to have worked as a firefighter 20-30 years ago?”
[Eve]: “Sadly not. The closest I’ve got to ‘rescue’ work is flipping baps on me ex-wife’s van but I do have experience in the legal field.” She laughs. “I’m far too clumsy to be a firefighter.”
[Hyper]: “Fair enough! You just look a lot like an old friend -Sally Fields-from back in the day.”
[Eve]: “She must be a looker, then” They laugh.
Suki returns just in time to catch the tail end of their chat.
[Eve]: “Alright?”
Suki nods with a mhm.
[Hyper]: “I’ll get your drinks” he disappears somewhere around the bar probably getting a clean glass for the brandy.
————————————————————-
An hour later, they’re near the main stage, just two minutes away from the bar. They sway while they’re fingers intertwine and cheer as the performers like Mama Tasty and Diva Delights light up the crowd. Later, The DJ spins some iconic bangers, including a rendition of Lady Gaga’s Born This Way.
Eve glances over at Suki—only to see her completely lost in the music, eyes closed, body moving freely. Eve is in awe. She loves seeing her like this and she wants to cherish this forever. She pulls out her phone and snaps a picture… but the flash goes off. Suki’s eyes flick open smirking. Eve moves her phone out of her reach.
[Suki]: “Come on let me see!” she lunges playfully, giggling. “I promise not to delete it…” shuffling closer “.. if it’s a good photo.”
[Eve]: “Okay fine”
They both look at the photo together - they both fall silent
[Eve]: “You look so happy” She sniffs, tucking her phone away.
[Suki]: “I am” she whispers.
She cups Eve’s face, pulling her into a deep kiss.
Eve pulls away to put her forehead to hers.
[Eve]: “I love you.”
[Suki]: “I love you too… so so much” she says adoringly
They hold each other close as Freedom by George Michael starts to play.
♪♪ I won't let you down, I will not give you up…
Gotta have some faith in the sound… ♪♪
Eve opens her eyes and spots La Voix walking towards them, she pulls back from Suki.
[Eve]: “Oh my gosh, hiya mate”
[La Viox]: “Well hello there Evie”
They hug and compliment each other’s outfits.
[La Voix]: “And… this must be Suki. I’ve heard so much about you.”
[Suki]: blushing “All good things I hope”
La Voix touched her shoulder warmly.
[La Voix]: “It takes courage to be here, your first Pride… and you’re radiant.”
Suki squeezed Eve’s hand
[Suki]: “I chose Pride, and I chose her.” She gives Eve a kiss on her hand. Eve winks at her, making her giggle.
La Voix drifts back into the crowd, leaving them alone. The music swells. Eve leans in, brushing her lips against Suki’s. Suki kisses her back - tender and certain.
[Suki]: “This… this is me.” She whispers
[Eve]: “This is us” They gaze into each other’s eyes
The music soared, the crowd cheered, and Suki held Eve closer than ever — free, proud, and entirely herself.
Foreheads on each other’s and mouthing the current lyrics to each other:
♪♪
Freedom
Freedom
Freedom
You've got to give what you take!
♪♪
{The End}