Of all the time we spend together in a day, the morning's my favorite part.
When we're in different cities, your voice on the other end of the phone kickstarts my day and gives me energy, like a solar panel absorbing sunshine. When we're together, squirming under the sheets and discovering new ways to fit together, mornings are euphoric. I inhale your smell and graze your skin with my lips and fingertips. And then there's your smile. "Hi," you'll say – soft and high. "Hi babe."
I've never seen a smile like yours; it takes up your entire face. Accented by the glow of a skylight, your smile is its own creature, waking and coming anew– reaching and stretching towards your eyes. When you smile, I can't help but smile myself. In those moments, at the onset of something new, I'm the happiest I'll be all day.
I want you to have every opportunity to be happy. And not just in moments of intimate, closed-off-from-the-world togetherness. Because I made a promise to you, and I'm going to keep it. Do what makes you happy and I will be there.
The next morning is imminent. And I'll be with you when it comes. Always.
“I love a skyline,” you said, nodding towards the cluster of buildings in the distance.
“The Cathedral, Hotel Monteleone, Harrah’s, the aquarium.” Like a seek-and-find game in Highlights Magazine, I scanned the buildings and located every landmark you named, realizing [for the first time] that the Monteleone was left of St. Louis Cathedral. Weird, I thought. I never knew that.
When you visited San Francisco the first time, you said the same thing. “I love a skyline.” Here, I was able to point out Salesforce Tower and Google’s Spear Street Office. I was still learning, but proud of myself for knowing two of the infinite buildings that make up the Financial District.
In my mind, I filed away skylines along with craft breweries, Teen Wolf, Drake, Nike stores, blackjack, and grilled cheese sandwiches.
Last night, we fell asleep wrapped in each other’s arms and breathing only the air between us.
Every few hours, I was awoken by the soft touch of your fingertips across my face.
“Hey,” you said in a whisper. “I love you.”
Briefly breaking the surface of my dreams, I said, “I love you.”
And then I slipped back under – returning to the depth of my own personal twilight.
I want you to have every opportunity to be happy. And not just in moments of intimate, closed-off-from-the-world togetherness. Because I made a promise to you, and I'm going to keep it. Do what makes you happy and I will be there.
The next morning is imminent. And I'll be with you when it comes. Always.
***
“The Cathedral, Hotel Monteleone, Harrah’s, the aquarium.” Like a seek-and-find game in Highlights Magazine, I scanned the buildings and located every landmark you named, realizing [for the first time] that the Monteleone was left of St. Louis Cathedral. Weird, I thought. I never knew that.
When you visited San Francisco the first time, you said the same thing. “I love a skyline.” Here, I was able to point out Salesforce Tower and Google’s Spear Street Office. I was still learning, but proud of myself for knowing two of the infinite buildings that make up the Financial District.
In my mind, I filed away skylines along with craft breweries, Teen Wolf, Drake, Nike stores, blackjack, and grilled cheese sandwiches.
***
Last night, we fell asleep wrapped in each other’s arms and breathing only the air between us.
Every few hours, I was awoken by the soft touch of your fingertips across my face.
“Hey,” you said in a whisper. “I love you.”
Briefly breaking the surface of my dreams, I said, “I love you.”
And then I slipped back under – returning to the depth of my own personal twilight.
