Thirty
By John W. Vander Velden
As Alex lies in the
predawn dimness he considers. To others
thirty years is a long time but as he watches the rhythmic rise and fall of the
blankets beside him; it seems only a few blinks. He listens to the symphony of quiet breaths
and wonders how he reached this place.
The memories come -- memories of walks on quiet pathways -- memories of
their first kiss -- memories of the time she revealed she loved him. Alex draws a breath, closes his eyes and goes
to those times, relives thousands of special moments. He sees his beloved, dressed in white, coming
-- coming to him. He sees the trembling
lip beneath the vail, and remembers that he was afraid as well. That Saturday he doubted himself – knew he
was unworthy – and yet… The remainder of
that day a blur, but it was the beginning – and yet not.
His mind filled with
images of so many moments. In the flood
of the past Alex pushes aside the times of heartache. He understands that everyone faces dark times
and hurtful words. They are but stepping
stones to better places and need to be crossed but once. In the grand scale, those insignificant, for
the good outweigh them many times over. He swallows and wonders why. Why would the woman bind herself to him? What did she see that he could not?
Watching as the morning
light grows stronger he smiles. With a
gentle touch she would awaken, share this special time – another special
instant. But Alex does not wake his
beloved, no, he knows himself fortunate.
For he shares his life with his bestest of bestest friends – his hero –
his confidant – the one that saved him – the only one that could. When the world’s craziness came and it had
come often, her arms returned the stability to the chaos. In her words hope could be found. Together they faced storms. Together they raised three enthusiastic
boys. Together they faced loss –
together…
And today it would be
thirty years – and it was only the beginning!
(343 Words) 1-11-2015
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