A loud cheer broke out. People started clapping.

“You go girl!”

“Whoo hoo!”

“Be yourself!”

The loud cop turned and shouted. “Quiet! Diam!”

Marina walked down the stairs and out onto the street where the open doors of the Black Maria greeted her.

We drove home in silence.

After Omar parked the car, I got out first and walked up the flight of stairs to our apartment. I unlocked the front door and immediately started peeling my clothes off. I felt dirty, sweaty, like there was a week’s worth of grime on my face, my armpits, in between my toes.

I ran naked into the shower and when the ice-cold water from the shower spattered on the top of my head, I sighed loudly and let the water wash all over me. I wanted to weep but I couldn’t. I wanted to scream but I couldn’t. I felt spent.

Then, the door to the shower stall opened and Omar came in.

I felt his arms around me, his warm body hugging me with strength, then tenderness.

A guilty sob escaped my lips, and then the tears came mingling with the cold water. He just held me like that, kissed the back of my head, my neck, until I felt his desire on the small of my back.

I turned and kissed him. I held his face and looked into his eyes.

I want to wring your bloody neck, he said.

I know.

Know what? That you did E? Got wasted? With Karin?

There was water in my eyes, and they smarted. He brushed my eyelids with gentle fingers and kissed them.

Why? Del. I want to know why.

I just wanted to. Get wasted. Just forget about—shit.

And you didn’t think to tell me? He took a deep breath.
I didn’t know where you were, I was worried.

Yeah…I’m…sorry.

He kissed my eyelids again.

I don’t know if I can do this, Omar. I kissed his mouth, wanting to shut him up.

He kissed me back. His gentle tongue probing me. I stopped and said.

This, getting married. Kids, maybe. I don’t know.

He sighed.

I kissed him. More urgency, this time. I just wanted to make him happy, I didn’t want to talk about it all, not all in one go. I feel lost. So fucked up.

He pushed me against the corner of the shower and entered me from behind. I gasped, my hands pressed against the wet tiles. He grabbed my fingers and went even deeper into me. His body against mine, again and again.

I love you Del. Just be who you are.

He pushed into me, our bodies so familiar in the taking and giving of pleasure.

Just be. Be my wife. Start there.

His voice broke. He was inside me, all of him. My face slid against the wet tiles. He sought my mouth, our tongues licking, sucking. The water like a balm, washing us clean, washing me of my worries, washing away all his anger.