"I Am Always Remembering..."

That next morning as I stirred from my slumber, I felt truly happy. This was love at long last. As I dressed for my morning run, I thought of all those years of fear and loathing and of how they were now at an end. A time to be happy had finally arrived. I smiled as I ran through the still dark streets, as wonderful thoughts of loving him swirled in my mind and brought me out and back from my five miles in perhaps my best time ever. As soon as I got back home, I checked for a text message from the beloved one... It was there, he said he was hoping I had a good run and that he's soon be calling. I quickly showered and climbed back into bed to await his call. When the phone rang, I lept to the edge of the bed, answering the phone with, "Good Morning Dearest..." He professed his love and asked me to come to him. There was no fear anymore as I told him, "I'm on my way, Dearest."

Quickly and nervously, I got dressed and while looking in the mirror at myself, I recall thinking that I had never seen myself look happier or more contented. I drove to the beautiful mansion he lived in, and I parked on the street in front. Walking up to the front door of the imposing edifice, I felt like I was floating on air. The beloved one came to the door in a robe and asked me to park inside the gates on the circular drive in the rear. As I parked next to the fountain in the driveway, the beloved one appeared in the doorway. When I got to the door, he took my hand and drew me into the beautiful and spacious kitchen. He closed the large door and as the early light of dawn streamed into the windows, he took both my hands in his and leaned in to kiss me. It was gentle and yet incredibly passionate as well. The  emotions of that kiss, I would experience only once more in my life, upon another arrival of the beloved one some years later. 

Still holding my hand, he once again led me through the enormous house and up the lovely staircase, past padded walls covered in beautiful silk to his rooms in the east wing. As he closed the door behind us, I took my jacket off and he reached around me and slowly undid the buttons of my shirt one by one slipping it from my shoulders effortlessly.  He caressed my arms, and as I turned to face him, we kissed again and this time with a passion and affection that I had never been able to imagine or believe could exist. Then without fear or reproach, I undressed and he disrobed and we beheld one another in all our human vulnerability for the first time. The beloved one was beautiful in every way, he was the most handsome man I'd ever beheld. There was nothing more for our lips to say, as our eyes said to us both, "Love's hour had arrived." We embraced and fell into each others arms and then for hours on end... even until dusk, we laid together, exploring and loving one another, both body and soul.

I am always remembering... 

And my greatest fear is that I may not live long enough to forget.