This is the greatest night of my life.

"You think my work is ingenious and you'd like to commission a piece for your home? I'm flattered....."

I'm the toast of the town.

"Hmm? I do think my use of space and light are my strongest points. You have a keen eye about art, Mr. Stallone and I thought 'Judge Dredd' was highly underrated."

It seemed like I stood in one place for hours, shaking hands and chatting with the rich and famous. Trays of champagne and hors-d'oeuvres floated above the crowd.

"Another glass of champagne? Why I'd love it. A toast to me? A speech? I'm not very good at these sorts of things."

I stood there with my glass raised as everybody clapped. I looked over at Donna. She stood there with the biggest smile on her face. It looked as big as mine felt. This night was just as much hers as it was mine. Without her, I never would've made this show in the first place. For years I struggled to study and work to be a good artist, and then struggled even longer to get a gallery to look at my work. Donna was an angel. She didn't have to like my work. She didn't have to get me this showing. But she did.

I looked over at her smiling face-- again.

It's a lot prettier than the empty gaze she had yesterday after the treatments we'd both received.

*****

Dr. Mince gave us both a small dose as punishment for breaking curfew. A small dose is bad enough. The effects of it wore off about an hour before they did on Donna. I shuffled over to her room and sat next to her, holding her hand while she stared into nothingness, her muscles occasionally twitching, still responding to the electric shocks. After a long time, she started coming back to life as her eyes began to focus. I leaned over, kissed her, got down on one knee and asked her to marry me.

She gave me a groggy yes.