Mileven Stories

We're Waiting for the Sunlight (1993)

"When I feel I can't go on, you come and hold me. It's you and me forever."

It all started with the topic of Valentine's Day. Near the end of January, the newly engaged couple had decided that since they were attempting to save money for the wedding that exchanging gifts for Cupid's holiday was not necessary.

Well, at least that is what Mike had agreed to.

It was now the eve of Valentine's Day and Mike had just entered the apartment door before he sluggishly removed the heavy book bag off of his back. He threw his keys at the kitchen island, nearly missing, as he trudged towards the bedroom.

In truth, his semester was going terribly wrong. His school priorities posed too much of a burden to allow him to work at the moment. So, for this spring semester, he was merely a full time student. For some reason, that alone left him feeling useless.

El was both a full time student while juggling a part time internship and part time daycare job. She woke up each morning with a gleam in her eyes and returned home each evening with a bounce in her step. She was resilient and absolutely radiant.

Mike was immensely proud of her. There was so much pride that he could not appropriately express that enough. However, he couldn't help but feel as though he was falling behind. Almost like he was not good enough for her.

Feeling unworthy of the ethereal being that was his fiancée was always something he had struggled with. Yet, it was typically an insecurity of his that was silently resolved without El even being aware of it.

In the midst of battling with his self loathing and additional stressors, the very last thing he wanted to see was a beautifully wrapped gift perched upon his pillow.

He leaned forward hazardously as his hand grazed the shiny red paper. His eyebrows furrowed in both confusion and annoyance. Eleven wouldn't have gotten him a gift after agreeing not to, right?

As if on cue, his question would soon be properly addressed as an angelic voice suddenly came from behind him, "hey baby!"

El reached up onto her tippy toes and pecked his lips softly, leaving a tinted pink residue on him from the lipstick she had applied earlier, before pulling back to examine his face. She could tell by taking one glance at him that something was off.

"Is everything okay?" she gently probed while smoothing her palm across his crinkled brows.

Mike's hand flashed to the side, bringing the offensive object into clear sight, "what is this? We said no gifts. Which means there are no gifts. What is it?"

She hesitated, slightly taken back by his tone, before hurrying to explain, "it's nothing big at all. I didn't even wrap it, the salesperson did as a holiday tradition that they were doing for customers. And it's actually not even a Valentine's gift. I put in an order for it in December and was put on a backlist, hoping they would get back to me for Christmas. I forgot all about it until I got the call earlier today that it was finally in and ready to go. So, long story short, happy belated Christmas," she finished ranting with a wide grin plastered on her face.

El's joyful spirits began to descend as she watched her fiancé hatefully pick at the wrapped present. She had meant no harm and was not trying to get around their no gift idea. It just so happened that timing ultimately failed her miserably.

"Can you return in? I don't want anything right now. Let's just stick to neither of us getting gifts around Valentine's Day this year, okay?" he muttered, not managing to hide his temper very well.

"I..I don't want to return it. Please, Mike. I really wanted to give this to you two months ago and I think you'll love it. Please, just open it and then decide," she pleaded in response, hoping to turn things around.