The---New---Cancer

"The first time I ever kissed a woman," says Julieta, glass-eyed and tired-lipped, "I was fifteen years old." Anna Rubenstein, her partner of many years, touches her fingers to Julieta's hair. "It was cold (we were on a bridge overlooking the bayou) and I wasn't wearing a sweater so Romilda (that was her name, Romilda) placed her pacholi smelling jacket around my shoulders. I felt like I was getting drunk on her woody scent.  Like I was drowning..." Julieta folds her hands and does not look at Anna. "And she pulled me close and I thought I was going to explode." "Did you?" "Yes.  I fell in love with Romilda