CiCi Bianchini & Elena Taylor

It’s hard to believe that Elena and CiCi have been together for five years, because they embody that joy that comes with new love. They look at each other with tenderness, even when they’re poking fun at one another, which is often. CiCi grew up in Orlando, and met Elena here while she was in school. The couple now live in Tampa, but will always feel a strong connection to Orlando. Pulse was a second home for the couple. Elena spent eight years living in Orlando, and in that time became friends with Eddie Sotomayor, one of the 49. It was CiCi’s first gay bar, and her first bar backing job. She was at Pulse most weekend days every week. They are each tattoo people, and knew immediately they wanted something to represent Pulse, the friend they lost, and their love for their former home. Elena is a physical therapist, and wanted a real EKG line for her tattoo. CiCi found a design she liked on Instagram, and modified it to represent her feeling that Orlando “is just one city and one pulse.” She follows that by saying, “I will always bleed my city.” The couple try to get back to Orlando whenever they can. They especially miss their friends, family, and the farmers market.