She's eager.
"let me give my sexy girlfriend a ride home." i smile.
"Okay," she says with a grin, following him to his car. As they drive off into the early morning light, Valerie can't help but wonder what other adventures they'll have together before they inevitably part ways. But for now, she's content to enjoy this moment - the last taste of freedom before embarking on the next great journey of her life.
When they finally pull apart from their kiss, it's past midnight and the party has long since died down. They make their way back upstairs, hand in hand, promising each other that they won't forget tonight, no matter how far apart their lives may take them in the future.
As they say goodbye outside the house, Valerie leans up on her tiptoes and plants a soft kiss on Cliff's cheek before walking away into the night, her newfound confidence shining brightly under the stars.
I watch Valerie leave, a pain in my heart for whatever the future holds. I know she’ll go on to do great things; and I’ll probably still be here, working hard labor for low pay. I may never find anyone quite like her. But at least tonight, she was all mine.
The next morning, Valerie wakes up with a pounding headache and a strange sense of disorientation. As the memories of last night flood back into her consciousness, she can't help but smile to herself. She slips out of bed and heads downstairs to make some coffee, feeling more alive than ever before.
As she stands at the kitchen counter, gazing out the window at the world beyond, she realizes that things will never be the same again.