Alina and Genya had been friends for years. They had grown up together in the Little Palace and had been inseparable ever since they met. Alina had always been drawn to Genya's beauty and grace, and Genya had always been drawn to Alina's strength and determination.
As they got older, Alina began to realize that her feelings for Genya were more than just friendship. She tried to ignore them at first, telling herself that it was just a passing phase. But the more she tried to push her feelings aside, the stronger they became.
One day, Alina decided to confide in Genya. She was nervous about telling her friend, afraid that it would ruin their relationship. But when she finally worked up the courage to speak, Genya surprised her with her response.
"I've known for a while," Genya said, her eyes soft and understanding. "And I feel the same way."
With those words, Alina's heart soared. They started dating in secret, stealing moments whenever they could to be alone together. They would sneak away to secluded corners of the palace or take long walks in the woods, holding hands and stealing kisses.
But they both knew that they couldn't keep their relationship a secret forever. The Grisha community was not always accepting of same-sex relationships, and they were afraid of how people would react if they found out.
One day, Alina decided that she couldn't live in secret anymore. She wanted to be able to hold Genya's hand in public, to be able to kiss her without fear of being caught.
"I want to tell everyone," she said to Genya, her voice trembling with emotion.
Genya looked at her for a moment, her eyes searching Alina's face. "Okay," she said finally, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips. "Let's do it."
They walked hand in hand into the main hall of the palace, where all of the Grisha were gathered for a meeting. Alina felt her heart racing in her chest as they made their way to the front of the room. She could feel the eyes of everyone in the room on them, but she didn't care. All that mattered was Genya.
"I have something to tell you all," she said, her voice steady despite the pounding in her chest. "Genya and I are in love. We have been for a long time now, and we wanted to share it with all of you."
There was a stunned silence in the room, and Alina held her breath, waiting for someone to say something. But then a slow clap started in the back of the room, and soon everyone was applauding.
"Love is love," someone shouted, and soon the whole room was cheering.
Alina and Genya looked at each other, tears streaming down their faces. They had never been happier.
After the meeting, they were surrounded by well-wishers, people congratulating them on their bravery and their love. Alina felt like she was walking on air as she held Genya's hand, knowing that they had the support of the Grisha community.
Later that night, they sat together on a balcony overlooking the palace, the stars shining above them. Genya turned to Alina, her eyes shining.
"I love you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I love you too," Alina replied, leaning in for a kiss.
As they kissed, they knew that they had each other, and that was all that mattered. They were two halves of a whole, together forever.