The first time was a nightmare.
A Honda Civic. Too fast for Lou to hear coming while he crossed the street.
He wasn’t awake yet when I was asked to leave, and I didn’t get to stay with him until he did.
I stayed at the nearest motel. I’ve never cried harder since that time.
Well, it happened, Lou. In our lifetime. I’ll always be at your side from now on.
“This is the ring, Lou… and this is my promise on it.”
“This couldn’t wait till after my endoscopy?”
“I can’t take my chances when there’s a cute doctor.”
“…Shane, I can hear you crying.”
“It’s happy crying.”
“I know.”

Louis Stevenson and Shane Liu (Liu Seng Kee) are characters from a collaboration between  pearbear and I, SLICES*, before he disappeared. For my part, I intended to write them to portray issues related to a couple who are not only ready, but have a great need for the benefits endowed by same-sex marriage. E.g. visitation rights and spousal consultation, since Louis is fully blind (but not from birth) and occasionally gets hurt while commuting to / working at an urban civic center.

*Included his popular pair Biff & Rico, Van Tango, my Marco, etc.