She carefully got out of bed, not wanting to wake Shane. She tiptoed around the bed and closed the curtains. In the comforting darkness she crawled under the sheets again, next to Shane. So much had changed. She had something way better now. She had someone she loved, someone who was more beautiful than a million Maria’s together, someone who filled her heart everyday with more love and happiness. Someone who was hers. All for herself. She leaned forward and caught Shane’s mouth in a sweet soft kiss. It wasn’t really like a kiss, just a brief touch of their lips. ‘I love you, Shane,’ Carmen whispered. Shane was still asleep but Carmen said the words anyway. Because she felt the words so strongly rushing through her body that she couldn’t hold them in. She felt the words everywhere and anytime. Like someone had tattooed in her mind over and over again the words: ‘I love Shane McCutcheon, I love Shane McCutcheon.’ Shane shifted around in her sleep, her arms winding around Carmen’s shoulders. Carmen happily leaned into the touch, her head resting on Shane’s shoulder again. ‘I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else but here,’ Carmen whispered with her eyes closed. Shane woke up this time, her eyes slowly opened and she thought back at the night before. When she remembered where she was, in her room, in her bed with Carmen in her arms she smiled. She also remembered that she was woken up because Carmen said something to her and her smiled got even bigger when the realization of the words hit in. ‘I wouldn’t want to be here with anyone else but you,’ Shane whispered and dropped a kiss on Carmen’s nose.

Shane was in the bathroom, doing her hair in front of the mirror. Carmen was watching her from the other side of the room, leaning against the door. ‘You are so beautiful,’ Carmen said after a few moments of silence. Shane chuckled uneasily and shook her head. ‘No, really! I mean it,’ Carmen said and she approached Shane, placing her hand on Shane’s arm. ‘You know, this morning, I was watching you while you were asleep. I don’t know is that freaky? But anyways, you looked so beautiful,’ Carmen spoke. On Shane’s cheeks a pink blush appeared. ‘God..’ Shane said softly and she shook her head again. ‘You took my breath away,’ Carmen said certainly and she smiled at Shane. Carmen turned around to pick up her bag and took her toothbrush out because she knew when to stop bothering Shane. Shane had finished the task of doing her hair and washed her hands to get the wax of. ‘You know, Carmen.. don’t be too nice to me ok?’ Shane said softly. ‘Why not?’ Carmen asked, simply and calm as she turned around. ‘Just.. makes me nervous,’ Shane answered, all of sudden really interested in the task of drying her hands. Carmen rolled her eyes dramatically. ‘Oh, come on that’s a total lie. You love it when I sweet-talk you!’ she said raising her voice. Shane could feel Carmen staring at her but she didn’t dare to look in her lovely brown eyes. When Shane didn’t answer Carmen pouted like a little kid. Shane finally lifted her head up to look at Carmen and she couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of it. She threw up her hands in defeat. ‘Okay, okay, you’re totally right. I love it!,’ Shane said laughing, raising her voice to the same volume Carmen had. Carmen shook her head and chuckled. ‘Just wanted to be sure on that one,’ she said before putting her toothbrush in her mouth. Now it was Shane’s turn to watch Carmen while she was brushing her teeth and she went to stand behind her. Shane placed her hands on Carmen’s hips and looked at their reflection in the mirror. ‘It still makes me nervous though,’ she said very softly. Carmen spit out some white flocks in the sink and looked back at Shane. ‘Yeah? Well, why is that?’ she asked. Shane shrugged. ‘I don’t know, it makes me feel good too. It.. it makes me feel very happy you know,’ she answered and she rested her chin on Carmen’s shoulder. ‘But it makes me wonder, why I deserve all this. Why I deserve to be so happy, to have you in my life.’ Carmen who was truly touched by her words didn’t say anything for a few beats but then she rinsed her mouth and said: ‘You deserve it Shane. You deserve to be happy more than anyone I know. You.. you just gotta learn to take instead of give, okay? And I’m really lucky to be the one.. to be the one who can try to make you happy.’ Shane let out a soft breath and nuzzled Carmen’s cheek. ‘You don’t have to try, you already made me happy,’ Shane said and she gently turned Carmen around so she could kiss her.