better than i imagined

my current fixation novel rests atop my knees as i sit near the lake,

watching the afternoon sunlight refract along the water’s surface

cool breezes flow, dancing through my hair,

along my arms,

against my legs

and i smile, feeling a contentment that seeps into my bones

i mark my place in the book and stand,

stretching as i look towards the house

i see the faces of my favorite people as i look in through the glass windows,

all smiles and silly faces,

and i giggle back

my eyes find yours in those faces

and i see a soft fire dancing there,

that look that has stayed in those eyes since the moment we met

the look that always reminds me that our flame will never extinguish

i make my way back inside,

to love,

to you,

to the promises of forever that i dreamed of as a girl

that turned out better than i could ever have imagined

when i became a woman