I've known him for more than half my life.
It's hard to wrap my head around that.
Then.
Nervous laughter. Mumbled words. Furtive glances. Attraction. Uncertainty.
20 years would have seemed laughable to us both.
Now...
His presence is comfort.
No need for fancy words. No need for overt demonstrations of love.
Silence is embraced, not feared.
A simple touch. Our fingers entwined. His hand on my leg. My head on his chest.
He laughs at my jokes and I at his.
Even though we each know the others repertoire by rote.
We are both wider.
Grayer.
Saggier.
Youth has been replaced by 'character'.
Yet when he looks at me I'm still that 17-year-old girl, and he still that 18-year-old boy.
There are no words worthy to describe the bond created through those 20 years.
It is a creature born of time.
Of anger. Of tears. Of laughter. Of love.
Thousands of fibres intertwined.
No beginning. No end. Ever changing.
I read an article recently about a Sliding Doors life. About making choices too early. About whether we would make the same choices given our time over.
As I write, there is a single, long-stemmed, red rose sitting in front of me.
20 years later, and he still remembers that first date.
There is no choice to be made.
Michelle :)
Congratulations on 20 amazing years! It's so comforting to have someone by your side and have that special connection. May you have a lifetime together.
ReplyDeleteAww... love this post. So sweet! Congrats on those 20 years! We are on our 10th year together... It's awesome when you have "the one" huh :)
ReplyDeleteDamnit! Now I'm all out of sarcasm, too.
ReplyDeleteThat's really beautiful Michelle... and congrats on your 20 years!
ReplyDeleteThere is a great deal to be said about that great comfort that this kind of relationship provides! the wider, saggier, whateverier... you two are together and happy... and that's all that counts!
ReplyDeleteHappy 20 years!!
~shoes~
Hi, a new follower here. And what a sweet post. 20 years is just massive! Congrats and I can't help to smile upon seeing your photo.
ReplyDeleteI've been with my partner for almost a year and I feel the most amazing sense of love in my heart... We both do. What you wrote was one of the most beautiful things I read this week. Congratulations on your trips, love, hard times passed, laughs and loving of 20 years... Hope you have many more. Dakota xo
ReplyDeleteMPS and I have been together almost 22 years.
ReplyDeleteHe never remembers. EVER.
I hate you a little bit right now.
xx
20 years! Congratulations!!
ReplyDeleteThat's lovely and congratulations - what a milestone!
ReplyDeleteMichele - there is a special connection. As much as I want to throttle him some days, I'm glad he's in my life.
ReplyDeleteMiranda - congrats on your 10 yrs! I think you're lucky these days if you can find the one.
Elly Lou - sorry I will now endeavour to do a sarcasm worthy post :)
Xerphile - thanks babe. Though 20yrs makes me feel a tad old!
ReplyDeleteRed Shoes - there's something about shared history that creates a strong bond, takes away the need to explain everything. It's almost like an unspoken language.
Joni - thanks for stopping by. I like that photo too, it was taken on Australia Day this year. I was feeling rather crook and he still managed to make me smile.
Dakota -thanks so much for your lovely comment. Wishing you and your partner many lovely years together too. When you find that one, it feels so different to anything else you've experienced.
ReplyDeleteKelley - I'm happy to come round and break his knee caps if you want.
Veronica - thanks babe.
CRAP Mamma - thanks so much. And can I say, I love your title.
ReplyDelete