Luna, 23
At times, I don fluffy cat ears and crawl under Zach’s desk while he’s working on his thesis
Zach and I first crossed paths in a bar during Halloween. I needed a spot to set my drink while I vaped, and began discussing the Hellenistic era with him. He was anticipating a Hinge date, but he dropped it when he discovered I could score us free drinks since I knew the bartender. It took some time for things to develop between us. I had only one partner previously, and Zach was quite promiscuous, so I held off on sex for a month until he completed all the necessary sexual health tests. He was understanding and didn’t push things further, which I appreciated.
My previous boyfriend adhered to strict beliefs, and our intimate life was quite regimented, while my relationship with Zach is all about spontaneity and creativity. Sometimes, I don fluffy cat ears and crawl under Zach’s desk as he types away on his thesis. He will stroke my hair and ask, “Do you enjoy that? Do you need anything?” It creates a sense of security for me, allowing me to temporarily shut off my thoughts. We reside with Zach’s grandparents as their caregivers, and once I left the ears on by mistake. His grandma noticed and exclaimed, “What a lovely headband, dear. Perhaps I should get one too.”
From the outside, Zach’s grandparents’ home appears spacious, but it’s rather cozy on the inside. Our bedroom was once Zach’s mom’s childhood sanctuary; it features glow-in-the-dark stars on the ceiling and a vintage leather headboard that thumps against the wall during intimate moments. We opted for the floor, only to realize his grandparents could hear everything from downstairs when they inquired, “Were you having a fun dance up there?” I explained that we were watching Irish dancing and attempting to replicate the moves.
We engage in intimacy about four times weekly, but Zach would prefer it to be more frequent. His libido is considerably stronger than mine. I don’t yearn for sexual experiences at all – I could easily go a month without it and not even notice, but I do appreciate physical closeness.
We share tender moments throughout our day, like filling each other’s water glasses when they’re getting low, or sneaking off to the park or pub. Zach is exceptionally considerate – he anticipates my needs before I even recognize them. We take care of one another.
Zach, 25
While we’re in the midst of intimacy, we’ll hear the stairlift beeping, or one of my grandparents calling out to us. Usually, they’re just checking if we’d like to do the crossword
Six months back, Luna and I relocated to live with my elderly grandparents to serve as their full-time caregivers. They were struggling to manage independently, and now we don’t have to stress about rent or bills.
I possess a fairly high sex drive, but it has noticeably declined since we started living here. Caring for them can be quite draining, and it’s not as if we can come home and unwind after a long day; our work is right underneath our roof. Changing bandages and attending to commodes doesn’t exactly create a romantic atmosphere, but we steer clear of discussing medical appointments or health issues when we’re in our space – we safeguard that little haven for ourselves.
Occasionally, while we’re being intimate, we’ll hear the stairlift making noise, or my grandparents calling up to us. It’s never urgent – they often just want to know if we feel up to doing the crossword – but it interrupts the moment. And we must keep the noise levels down, preventing us from fully letting go like we sometimes wish to.
There are advantages – we’re sheltered from the rising living costs here and we get to spend more time with my grandparents. Living in this household, we face the reality of mortality more closely, making me acutely aware of the transient nature of existence. We need to seize the moments we have, so I shower Luna with flowers, take her on outings, and embrace every second.
Before my encounter with Luna two years ago, I presented myself as pretentious and showy, trying to impress those I dated with my readings of Kafka. But Luna allows me to be my authentic self – I don’t feel the need to perform around her. During our initial week together, it felt like we had been married forever. Now, as I witness Luna caring for my grandparents, I can envision a family with her – I already see how adept she is at nurturing and exhibiting tenderness through her everyday actions.
