by A. D. McDowell

Created on: August 14, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

Growing up, our heads are filled with fairy tales of knights in shinning armour and princesses finding prince charming. All those fairy tales end with a "happily ever after". With all the relationship problems of the "real world", our minds our now flooded with the down sides of relationships. The " happily ever afters" are no longer attached to love stories. So is it possible to obtain this "forever" kind of love. Do we really know love when we see it?

Today, I saw love. This was the "forever" kind of love that I was a witness to. The kind of love that proves that maybe, just maybe, fairy tales do come true. This is the kind of love that is rarely witnessed and many times overlooked.

This love was displayed by a couple in their 80's who were high school sweet hearts. Both are battling with physical ailments and demintia. Although many of their memories made together are mentally forgotten, their hearts know and remember their love. It is amazing how the heart can hold onto things that the mind often forgets.

I watched as the two of them sat quietly in their matching recliners, side by side. They talked of things that made no sense, yet to them, they made perfect sense. Moments later, both dozed off into a peaceful nap as they held each other's hand. And like clock work, they later woke up nearly at the same time. They sat there, content on just being together, side by side.

They sat in silence, no words needed. Just the re-assurance of being together, holding hands. They later chose to have an ice cream cone, both wanting strawberry. As they sat licking their cones in a near unison rhythmn, I witnessed him give her hand a tender squeeze. She looked over at him, he winked, causing her to smile as a hint of pink rose into her pale cheeks. The look in their eyes as they exchanged glances clearly spoke of the love they had for one another.

Then, no words exchanged, the two, still hand in hand, dozed off again into a peaceful nap.

This must be what love is about. I seen it today reflected in these two. Tenderness. Togetherness. Understanding. The ability to be content side by side. Love is still remembered, even when other memories are far from the mind. This love I seen today, was the most beautiful love I have yet to witness. They truly are living a forever, happily ever after.

I too hope to obtain this kind of love. The love that is built around forever. I hope to be old and grey, sitting beside my true love, being content to just hold his hand. To need no words and to know by the look in his eye and tender squeeze of his hand that he still loves me and finds pleasure in being by my side after all the years have passed. To drift off together into a peaceful sleep, side by side, hand in hand.

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