Contest Entries

Fifty Years: 600 Words of Love

           THE ENTIRE day was tiring. Today being a Saturday, my daughter and son-in-law came along with their kids—my lovely twin granddaughters—and decided to stay until the next evening, just like the usual.

          With every visit, Lisa and Layla would become more and more energetic. It took a lot of cookies and fairy tales to put them to sleep now.  I chuckled when their angelic sleeping faces popped into my brain as I entered the room I shared with Patrick, my husband.

          11:45 P.M.

          Patrick was already asleep. The light from the table-lamp shone on his wrinkled face. Light snores escaped his lips and a smile made its way on mine. I walked across the room to our bed ready to sleep away the exhaust when I caught the sight of a blue envelope on my side of the bed. I picked it up and sat on the bed taking a neatly folded letter out.

Dear Patricia,

          It's been forty-nine complete years since we got engaged in our married life. You've managed to fill every day with happiness, zeal, affection, and most importantly—love.

          You gracefully balanced your duties as a loving mother, a caring Nona and of course an adorable wife. You never complained about my imperfect behavior but gave me silent treatment enough times to make me run after you like a lost puppy.

          At first I never imagined what our future would be like, because we were not one of those High School Sweethearts. But every single day I found myself attracted to you. Every simple action of yours made me drown deeper into something I didn't know.

          Be it the look in your eyes while you made food for me, wanting it to taste the best, or falling asleep on the couch in a very uncomfortable position while waiting for me to return from work. Be it the anger in your eyes when I came home drunk or the way you would hug me like there is no tomorrow...

          There was something which calmed me and at the same time burned me on the inside. It brought a smile on my face even if I felt like a wreck. It made me feel light. It made me feel like there is only you... no one else but you. Of course it was love.

          Every single day, I found myself fall for you... your anger, your frown, your smile, your eyes.... Your hugs, the small pecks on lips...

          Even today, Patty, I find myself falling for you every single day, every single minute, every single second. It feels like there is no end to this fall. No end to how deep I'll drown in your love.

          You've given me the best forty-nine years of my life standing beside me through the drizzle, rain, storm and rainbow. Just do me one more favor. A last one. 

Patrick

          I turned around to find a smiling Patrick sitting next to me, with no sign of sleepiness on his face.

           "Patrick..." I whispered.

           "Sh..." He took my wrinkled hands in his while slipping something in between. "Will you marry me?"

          I saw a ring on my palm and looked at my husband with teary eyes and chuckled. "We're already married Patrick."

          He grinned and replied, "Another reason why we should get married."

          I laughed and hugged him with all the energy I could muster, "Of course, Patrick."

          The clock struck twelve indicating the completion of fifty years of our married life.

           "Happy anniversary, Patricia," He wished me with a gentle kiss on the forehead.

          "Happy anniversary"