Winter Together

Winter. I watch as the snow falls softly, gently on the pine trees, but weighing them down with the white coat of winter. I stare from the porch, as it blankets the hills and valleys, covering every foot of land between the snow-capped mountains in the distance and the cabin we rented for a weekend to ourselves. Basking in the scene provided by nature, I’m snapped from my trance by a voice calling to me:

“Are you coming? Or are you going to leave me out here by myself?”

Your call makes me grin and I look out and meet your gaze as you skate light-heartedly around the frozen pond. I contemplate for a moment, knowing that joining you would mean I could no longer admire you in this scenery from a distance. However, it is quickly made up for in the knowing that it meant I would get to be by your side again.

“I’ll be right out!”

I shout, proceeding to rush inside to get on my one skates. I stumble out, off the porch and through the yard, anxious to meet up with you. Skating to the edge, you take me by the hand and help me onto the ice, careful of the cracking ice on the shoreline. We skate to the center of the pond and you continue your graceful skate routine. I skate slowly behind, happy just to be watching your exquisite movements flowing from your perfect curves so smoothly. I become lost, near hypnotized by the elegance of the beauty gliding before me.

Your complex moves end and you soon return so a slow and simple skate. I take the opportunity to move up alongside you, placing my hands on your hips. Your hands cover mine and you turn your head to face me as we skate side by side. You close your eyes, smile sweetly, and for a moment time freezes.

That smile, that godly smile. It pierces through me every time I see it on you. The simple perfection of everything that you are. Your face, smooth and pale like an angel cast of alabaster in this cold winter light. An angel made specifically for me of unbridled beauty, worth its weight in gold and absolutely priceless. Just as I get lost in your eternal magnificence, time seems to return to my world. Your eyes open and I return the smile. We skate together, both sets of our hands on your waist for some time longer, until the snow begins to get heavier and the daylight fades.

We decide to resign ourselves back to the cabin for the evening to warm up. Once inside, we shed our skates, hats and coats. You relax on the couch while I throw some sticks and logs in the fireplace and get the fire lit. I leave for a moment and return with a large blanket to cover us as I join you on the couch. I turn and lean my back against the arm of the couch so that you can snuggle against me and rest your head on my chest the way I know you like to do.

Once we are both settled I grab the blanket and throw it over us. We lay there sharing heat in our embrace, listening to the fire crackle. I run my fingers through your soft, cold hair massaging your head with my fingertips as you slowly close your eyes. There is nowhere I would rather be at in this moment than right here. Nobody I would rather be with in this moment than you.

I stop rubbing your head and you let out a soft sigh and open your eyes to look around the room. As you focus on your surroundings, you notice an envelope sitting, leaning against a candlestick on the mantelpiece. There are words written on the front of it but at this distance you are unable to read it clearly. You ask what it is and I say that I’m unsure what it is or where it came from, suggesting you investigate it if you’re curious. You whine in the cutest little way because you don’t want to leave the comfort of the couch, nor the heat of our cuddle.

In the end your curiosity gets the best of you and you get up to check it out. Getting close enough to the mantle to feel the fire’s heat against your legs, you lean in to read the envelope. Written on the front are two small words: Read Me. Instinctively you cock you head slightly in confusion but again your curiosity takes over and you take it from where it sits. Opening it you find a letter inside which you unfold and begin to read:

“My Only One,

It seems like just yesterday I met you and fell for you almost instantly. We didn’t always know that we were meant for each other but I never doubted for a moment that we would end up together. There have been ups, there have been downs, but we never lost faith in each other. Now here we are all this time later and I wouldn’t trade a moment I’ve had with you for anything in the world. We know each other intimately, and I feel you are closer to my heart than anyone else has ever been or could ever be. I’ve told you my deepest secrets and I’ve shared my darkest fears.