Jen Thorpe

In many non-verbal ways, we’d been planning it for a few days. Despite us both being virgins, and despite us only having dated for a few months, the idea came naturally. One night we went up to his room after a few glasses of Dutch-courage, and began kissing.

It’s funny, because in the movies it always seems awkward, uncomfortable, with a lot of umming and aahing about where things fit, asking if you’re ready, and lots of pauses to gaze into each other’s eyes in affirmation.

For us, there was no awkwardness. The music was cheesy, but memorable. The lights were dim, but bright enough to see. There were no pauses. We didn’t need verbal affirmation. There was so much love. The whole thing flowed as if it had always been happening.

The next day I couldn’t stop smiling. The best thing was that when I saw him later that day, he couldn’t stop smiling either.

Jen Thorpe is a feminist writer and researcher who is still in love with her first time.