Portrait of Promise

I picked up my pen and looked at the paper.

His eyes, I thought. That is where I will start.

I carefully tapped the pen against the paper in repetition until the outline of love-filled eyes were complete. His eyes, I thought to myself.

Reminiscing to when Austin and I had begun dating --and when I used him as inspiration for an art project-- I could not help but smile. We were young and lived within our own happy border of life.

His eyes --the very pool of lively green that gives life to the Earth-- gave a foreign warmth to my heart and soul that I never want to live without. People say that eyes are the gateway to the soul, and I know that to be true.

I then tapped the pen to the paper to form the pupils and irises, and the rest of his eyes. His glasses frames were my next approach, then his nose and lips.

"His lips," I said softly to myself before biting my lip self-consciously, heat rising to my cheeks and a small smile forming.

Always, Austin's kisses have been filled with meaning and purpose. His kisses have never betrayed me. A kiss --so simple and small, so soft and gentle-- can be filled with many wonders and desires that can only be felt. Who knew that a kiss can give a person wings to fly?

I frowned and felt regret, remembering the times when my kisses have betrayed him, and how he never resented me. He forgave me and used his pain to help us both. He knew during those times that my own self-hate and disgust was punishment enough. I was not fair to him, yet, he still held his hands out to me with love and compassion. I thought of the countless times we had said, "We can get through this. We've gotten this far," and how that is our motto.

I tapped my pen to the paper to shape and shade Austin's coat, his hair and beard. His warmth has been one of my favorite traits about him. I then created his fedora and the background. Austin has given me many things to remember him by, and to have his scent to comfort me is one of my favorite things, also.

I remember how much we've grown and learned from being together, and how we have become better people and stronger than we ever have been. But, we have never relied on our love and faith for our relationship to last. We cling to that which we need most, and strive to nurture it for however long it needs. It is necessary to tend to our love in order for it to grow and strengthen.

I looked past my pen to the promise ring, and see the promise Austin gave me, and think of how, if we are honest and true to each other --no matter the circumstances-- we will last. Forever.