Eight Years

I wasn't going to stay very long. Fifteen, twenty minutes at the most. In and out. Real quick. Just one drink and go. Because I had other places to be. Other people to see.

But one of the best things about being young, spontaneous, and full of hope is that - on any given night, in any given place - Anything can happen. And, eight years ago on that late November night, Anything did happen.

That night, in a crowded bar and amidst a sea of people, I met Chris. We laid eyes on each other and - as true romantics would say - fell in love at first sight. We chatted about nothing and everything, shared dreams so seemingly far-fetched that we surprised even ourselves, and confided our deepest secrets without so much as a second thought. As the night spilled over into the morning, we lost track of time. Over several drinks, a horror movie and, later, over the hood of my frost-covered car, I lost a bit of myself to him.

And I've never gotten it back.

Eight years ago tonight I met the man that is now my husband. He has my heart. He has my soul.

And from now until forever, he'll have me.

___________________________

"Sooner or later we begin to understand that love is more than verses on valentines and romance in the movies. We begin to know that love is here and now, real and true, the most important thing in our lives. For love is the creator of our favourite memories and the foundation of our fondest dreams. Love is a promise that is always kept, a fortune that can never be spent, a seed that can flourish in even the most unlikely of places. And this radiance that never fades, this mysterious and magical joy, is the greatest treasure of all - one known only by those who love."
-- Author Unknown