There is a monthly movie night that I had been attending since I moved to Carrboro in 2022. It was a cold February when I strolled into the brewery where the movie takes place, and I see this young, good looking, hobbit-sized girl that I hadn’t seen before. She was sitting down at a bench and being chatted up by a very nice, but much much older woman. As I could see that the woman was trying to score an after movie date, and the younger Val was oblivious, I plopped down across the table and interjected myself into the conversation. Five minutes later, my “competition “ had left as we started a very intense conversation about the book she was reading, that I had just finished. This massive tome of around 500+ pages cemented my in. Three hours later, the movie was over and we had barely stopped whispering through most of it. As she settled her tab, talking with another woman about her star sign, I realized I didn’t want this to be the last conversation I had with Val. So I interrupted AGAIN, taking her phone and putting my number in it. Before I got home, I sent her the cutest picture of my cat that I had. She didn’t stand a chance.

I was nervously clutching a beer and making small talk with a woman 30+ years my senior when Lis walked into my first movie night meetup. She interjected herself right into the conversation. I was impressed by her confidence (I still am) and a little in awe of her sparkly personality. We talked about books and made snarky comments through the whole movie. Something about her set me at ease right away. Plus she was totally my type--from her arresting dark eyes to her star sign. We texted about cats, coming out, and everything in between. The first time we planned to hang out at a hike meetup, and I was so nervous I speed-walked up the mountain! Somehow, she kept up with me. A week or two later when she showed up to hang my TV in utility pants with tools and a ladder, I knew my little lesbian heart I was a complete goner.