Cheryl Henderson, 65, and Lynn Bisbee, 78, were married on Sept. 20, having live together since 1996.

The pair initially crossed paths through a mutual friend in 1993 and shared a home near Columbia, South Carolina, three years after.

Lynn says she was attracted to Cheryl from their very first meeting. But Cheryl admits she struggled to accept her own sexuality.

Her breakthrough moment came during a therapeutic somatic breathing session in June 2026, when she recognized she’d been “living in a dark prison” and desperately wanted liberation.

Cheryl confessed her feelings to Lynn, who proposed just weeks later. By September, the pair were finally exchanging “I dos.”

Cheryl, a retired therapist said: “It’s been a quick few months after years of waiting, but we’re so happy now. We just got back from our honeymoon and even though we lived together for decades, it feels deeper now.”

Lynn and Cheryl initially connected through a mutual friend at a women’s retreat in 1993 and bonded immediately.

Lynn, who was living in North Carolina at the time, would go on an hour-and-a-half drive to see Cheryl before they eventually moved in together three years later.

Lynn said: “I knew I was attracted to her from when I first saw her, but then we just became friends. We got on so well that I was happy to make these trips, but it soon became pretty arduous so we decided to move in together.”

At the beginning of 2026, Cheryl chose to prioritize her wellbeing, with a physician recommending she explore somatic breathing. The technique involves intentional, conscious breathing to promote bodily relaxation.

During a virtual session, Cheryl envisioned herself trapped inside a dark prison - a vision that helped her recognize she yearned to escape.

Cheryl said: “It was a real awakening for me. I remember after the session I sat by myself on the sofa, just thinking, and after a few hours, I thought to myself ‘I guess I’m gay.’ And then after another hour, I remember thinking ‘I’m f***ing gay!’” I got up and spoke to Lynn and, although I barely remember what I said, I ended it by asking her if she wanted to come to bed with me tonight."