Sophomore year turned out to be easier than they had anticipated, not because the classes got simpler or the workload lighter, but because they had each other - and because the city, for all it's chaos, began to feel like home. New York had a way of opening doors they didn't know existed. They found themselves more deeply immersed in the queer community: Molly landed a coveted internship with a queer film collective, where she spent late nights reviewing scripts and falling in love with storytelling all over again. Jessica threw herself into academic work, writing a deeply personal research paper on test anxiety in queer youth, interviewing peers and uncovering stories that echoed her own.

They began finding power in their voices, using them not just for themselves but for other, speaking on panels, organising campus events, even marching in protest when it mattered. That summer, they went to pride. They wore glitter and held hands through the crowded street, something so simple made Jessica tear up. That night, they got matching tattoos - tiny stars behind each of their ears, a quiet promise.

Their apartment was still barely bigger than a shoebox, but it overflowed with warmth and laughter. One afternoon, Molly came home holding a bouquet of sunflowers.

Jessica met her at the door with a kiss. "This feels like forever," she whispered.

Molly brushed a strand of hair from her face, smiling. "That's because it is."