A Love Like This

When morning comes, the first light shines directly in your eyes – an Eastward facing window, and poor-quality curtains – but you’re fine with that; mornings are your favorite.

He pulls the covers over his head, hoping to steal a few more moments of darkness. Later, when he’s more awake, he’ll ask you to get better curtains; mornings aren’t his thing.

After joining him in his covered lair, you press your lips into his shoulder and quietly, he stirs. He squints at you, one eye still closed, and scoots a little closer; then he scoops you up and holds you close, and you say, “hold me close forever.”

Before too long the dogs are up, eager to join in; so, they jump in bed and crawl all over you before they settle in. Five more minutes here, and then the real day begins.

Once the dogs are walked, breakfast can begin. You browse the fridge, hoping to find exactly what you need. Eggs, milk, syrup – pancakes yet again.

He washes the pan that’s in the sink, ginger with his movements. Meanwhile you slam every cabinet door gathering what you need. Once the pan is clean, you oil it up and start cooking right away.

He tries to squeeze by you in the tiny kitchen space; he needs coffee – his vital life force – if he’s going to make it through the day. Playfully, you scoot back and pin him to the counter. He laughs, sleepily, and plants kisses on your cheek. Then just as gently, scoots right by, coffee in his sights.

You grab the plates and serve the food, then sit together at the table. He reads the news, and you just sit there quietly, taking in the moment. Your heart is full, so you give thanks for this and every moment like it.

Some days you make it out into the world – explore new places, see new things. Sometimes you visit with family, other times you visit friends. When you must, you run your errands and take care of all essential things. But no matter what, he always drives while you prop your feet up on the dash.

Quietly, you listen for the moments when he sings out loud to his favorite songs – songs that have a special place in your heart because he loves them so.

Then, of course, there are always days when you stay home and just relax. He might play a video game while you do arts and crafts. And every now and then, you can't help but laugh when you hear him cursing at the screen. Some days it's enough to make you go upstairs and join in.

Sometimes you work out together. Sometimes you don’t. Sometimes you pick out a movie and snuggle up on the couch. Other times you lay around, passing ideas back and forth.

“What do you want to do?”

“I don’t know. What do you want to do?”

Truthfully, it doesn’t matter what you do. You’re just happy he’s there to do it with you. 

Every now and then you go to parties or other evening things. He likes to have a drink or two, but you’re typically not the type. You both like to socialize, but before the end of the night, somehow your best conversations are always with each other. You talk about your favorite memories or your plans for the future. You talk about what's going wrong in the world and what you could do to fix it. You talk about the interactions you've had with the people around you, or about life in general and where you fit into it. You talk, and talk, and talk, until finally it's time to go home.

You always start to get sleepy around 9 o’clock. He never does.

You pick out a good book, or whatever you’re already reading and head straight for the room, ready to settle in. He follows, lies with you for a time, and then kisses you, goodnight. He’ll probably watch something on TV or play another game before turning in a few hours later.

The day has come and gone, and you can’t help but think, I’m grateful for a love like this.