You Were Real

I didn't know exactly what love was until I met you. It goes from feeling the wind upon your skin to smelling your cologne on your neck. You were real.

I walked in to school believing this was the day that I finally talked to you. I tried to approach you, but you caught my eyes wandering to your looks. You smiled and I didn't have the strength to tell you how I felt. You just got over being in a relationship, that all I wanted was to be your friend. Your best friend. I wanted to know the real you, not the you that hides your sensitivity.

I walked up to you and you smiled. "Hi," you said.

"Hello," I said, as I pushed my hair back, behind my ear.

The conversation went on, us laughing and giggling. You were real. Weeks went by as I fell more and more into you — the smell of your cologne, those beautiful brown eyes, as they looked into mine. I wished I could tell him how I felt. The sensation was killing me.

One night, you picked me up for a night of fun — walking downtown. Enjoying beers with you, until you brought me to a beautiful river. You brought me to a boat fit for three people. You handed me a small lantern with a candle in the middle. It was square with the initials "M.O. + C.B." I didn't know what it meant, but my heart did. You paddled us to the middle of the river where other people were watching the lanterns float in the water. You looked at me and finally said the most interesting words, that I've been wanting to hear. "Thank you for being my friend. My best friend. You mean more to me than any girlfriend could have been put together. I want you to be mine, and mine forever." A tear ran down my face like never before.

You grabbed my hand and put the candle it it. You grabbed my other hand and kissed it. I reached over and and grabbed your lantern, and placed it in your hand. You held my hand as we placed our lanterns in the water. We watched as every individual lantern floated by.

You turned to me and lifted up my chin to face you. You put one of my hands on you chest wear your heart is, and one of your hands on the side of my face. You placed your other hand on you chest with my hand. "As long as my heart beats, I will forever be yours." You pulled me towards you and planted a kiss on my lips. I felt different, but a good feeling different. I wanted more of you.

50 years later...

I sat in my rocking chair outside, watching my grandkids play in the front yard. "My love?"

You appeared slowing walking out of the front door. You looked more healthy than I had ever seen you before.

"Yes, amor?"

"You ready to go?"

Every year, I watched you struggle to get of bed and every day I slowly watched you fade away. However, this year was different.

You took me to the same river we were when we first realized our love for each other. We walked down the trail slowly, and made our way to the same boat you kissed me in. We paddle out to the middle of the river, noticing that all my grandchildren and children are putting lanterns on to the water.

I didn't know what was going on, but in my heart I felt the presence of knowing. You looked at me, put one of my hands on your chest and placed your hands where they were years ago. "As long as my heart beats, I will forever be yours." A tear ran down my face, and he kissed my forehead. He knew this would make me happy. He knew I would forever charish this moment forever. He knew after a year from now that I would no longer be here. Cancer overtook me, and he cherished every second with me.

This year now, I'd watch cry for him everyday, watch him make the best with our family. I know he misses me, but as long as his heart beats I will forever wait for him and his words for me as he lies in his bed at night, "You were real."