She shifted in bed and turned to look at the bedside watch, it was 3:30 am. She got up and walked slowly towards the desk; sitting down on the chair, she opened the drawer and took out her favourite letter-pad and started writing.
My Love,
I am in love with you, have always been for as long as I can remember. Do you remember how as kids, we ran together in meadows, under the blue sky? How you ran ahead, then stop and turn around to look for me? That's when I knew, if I am ever lost in life, you will come find me.
Sometimes, I stumbled and fell, and you came running towards me, taking out your handkerchief, tied it around the wound. That's when I knew, if ever I am hurt you will take care of me and help me heal.
As we grew up together and we noticed our physical differences as man and woman, you became overprotective of me; keeping me safe from other boys and yourself, too. That's when I knew I could blindly trust you to protect me from any and every harm.
Do you remember, how while watching a scary movie I covered my eyes with my hands and rested my head on your shoulder? I do. I remember how you put your arm around me and made me feel safe. That's when I told myself, I belonged to you.
Over a period of time, as you lowered your guard, we began holding hands, and as we hugged, I could feel my heart hammering against my ribcage and I felt as if I would melt in your arms. That's when I decided I would do anything for you.
Do you remember when we spent the night together for the first time, lying on the roof of my house watching the stars? Do you remember counting them and hoping to see a falling star? Do you remember seeing one after a long time and how I had closed my eyes to make a wish? Do you remember how the very next moment you had kissed me on my lips? That night, that falling star had made my wish come true. I still feel that first kiss, I still feel the same joy and ecstasy every time you kiss me, after all these years.
I remember my mother walking in on us kissing on the roof of my house, your right hand over my breast I remember how scared I was and you requesting my mom not to scold me. That is when I had realised you will always defend me. I realised you loved me as much as I loved you or maybe even more. I remember how I had told my parents that I loved you and how they had laughed out loud; saying our love was just a teenage thing. I still remember how you had to go away and how much I had cried resting my head on your shoulder on the night before you had to leave. I remember how you had left without saying goodbye because you hated goodbyes.
I hope you remember because I do, how we proved my parents wrong and how our love grew stronger with every letter that we exchanged. I remember the day you returned and how I rushed into your arms at the train station not caring about people watching us. I remember our passionate kiss on the platform, your hands on my waist and my legs wrapped around yours. I remember, going then, to our hideout where we made love for the first time. I still feel the trail of the kisses you left from my jaw to my neck and down to my breasts and navel. I still tremble with anticipation when I think of that time at our hideout.
I remember every moment that we spent together since, I remember getting married and making love again, I remember our little fights and the apologies. I remember how you had told me that you loved kids and wanted lots and lots of them, how I had laughed and then whispered the good news in your ear. I remember how you had lifted me up in your arms and spun me around. I remember the kisses you had planted on my belly as it kept growing month after month. I remember the labour pain, I remember the joy. I remember your tears of joy and your nose turning red. I remember the sleepless nights and the tiresome days. I remember being happy in all the possible ways. I remember everything. As I climb into the bed next to you and see you sleeping peacefully, I wonder whether you remember. As I kiss you gently on your wrinkled forehead, I can see you smiling in your sleep. Are you dreaming about us, I wonder? I know, because of your progressing Alzheimer's and your constant struggle with your own memories, you might not always remember all that I do and the way I do; but somewhere, in a little corner of your mind, it would be still there; covered with cobwebs, perhaps, but it will be there, the time that we spent together.
Yours in Love
Your wife
She folded the paper and slid it into an envelope. She kept the envelope on the desk, propped up against the glass of water. She knew her husband would wake up a little later and approach the desk to drink water after coming from the bathroom. He did that every night.
She got up from the chair and waited until her arthritic knees became stable, then she slowly walked back to the bed and slid in next to her husband.
It was around 4:50 am when he woke up and walked slowly to the bathroom. He emptied his bladder, washed his hands and walked towards the desk to drink water from the glass, which was always kept filled for him. He saw the envelope and opened it, a puzzled look on his face. He started reading the letter and the expression on his face changed. By the time he finished reading there were tears in his eyes. He remembered the words of the letter, he had read these words before, not once, not twice but several times. His wife wrote this letter to him whenever she felt that he was slipping away. She could have easily used the same note every time; however, she preferred writing the same letter each time because doing so refreshed her memory as well and she got the chance to relive the moments. Each time she wrote the letter, she said, her love for him deepened and her faith in their relationship strengthened just like it had, years ago.
He kept the letter back in the envelope and stood there for a while before turning around to walk towards the bed. He slid in bed next to his wife and placed his head on her chest and held her tightly, he smiled as she wrapped her arms around him.
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