Fragments of Us

55: Ella

"Just how could you be breath-taking but still at the same time?"

My wife said this as she snapped some photos of me standing at the very place where I dramatically proposed to her a year and a half ago.

"Happy anniversary, love."

To this day, her beauty never fails to amaze me. And God, those round almond eyes that are always looking at me with love.

"Happy anniversary, love."

She said it back to me as she pulled me into an embrace. Sometimes I wish I didn't have to let go.

"What? Is there something on my face?"

She asked when she noticed my gaze so fixed on her.

"You look like the girl I will love across all lifetimes."

My gaze softened as her eyes met mine, and she tucked some of my hair behind my ear. God, I really love that gesture of hers. It always gets me.

"And you look exactly like the girl I will fall for harder in each."

She smiled, and a tear dropped from her eyes.

I wiped her tears and kissed her cheek before we turned to face the gentle waves that reflected the now-purple-pink sky.

"Thank you for not giving up on me."

"Thank you for letting me catch up."

There was a moment of silence between us, but that silence was full of peace and warmth. I can feel it spreading from my chest into all of my being, and I know Jema felt it too.

I pulled a coin out of my pocket and turned to face my wife.

"What's this?"

Her brows arched as I showed her the coin.

"A coin."

She answered, almost confused. I then hid the coin inside my closed palm.

"Blow."

Jema then proceeds to blow on my closed palm. I gestured to pick something out behind her ear. It was a yellow flower.

I saw Jema's face brighten even more the moment she saw the flower.

"How did you do that?"

"Just some part of my wonders."

She hit my shoulder as we both laughed. I placed the flower on her ear and took the camera from her.

"Eyes here, baby."

Instead of waiting for her to look at the camera, I took a candid photo of her.

Her hair was swaying in the sea breeze as her eyes disappeared because of that beaming smile.

Seeing Jema like this always makes me feel like I've got everything I need in this life.

"I love you so much, wife."

I said this to her as I held her hand and gently placed a kiss on it.