Glow. I had always found it strange that women had the tendency to glow. when they were happy, when they were pregnant, when they were sleeping. The latter happening right before my eyes as Tina continues her peaceful slumber as I watch on. In the early morning light, her body has an ethereal aura around it and i’m left thinking why would an angel spend so much time down here with me of all people. The rythmic up and down of her body lets me know that, in fact, this beauty is real and the moments we shared the night before are not a dream. Her face is the embodiment of peace with the hint of smirk lying on her lips. I can’t take it anymore. I have to touch her. I lean forward and lightly graze the lips I couldn’t enough of. If love had a taste, I often think it would taste like Tina’s lips: a touch of honey, strawberries and a dash of cream. As I pull back, Tina’s eyes begin to flutter open. Once her gaze steadies, she gives me the sweetest smile that lights up her chocolate eyes. At this moment, I don’t know what I’d do if I ever lost her.

 "Mornin’," came Tina’s sleepy salutation. I love how her southern accent comes out more when she’s barely awake. "Morning to you, too. Did you sleep well?" I ask, a smile spreading across my face. I slept fine, that is, until I felt someone watching me and then I felt the lightest, sweetest touch and I just had to figure out where it came from," said Tina in mock innocence. "Well, maybe I can help you find it," I say, playing right along, all the while leaning in for another kiss. This kiss quickly lost its sweetness as the intent behind it became carnal. Pulling back the sheets, I began to caress the very skin that had hypnotized me earlier. Moans could now be heard and the passion rose between us. It swirled and billowed like a cloud around us, forming a lover’s hideaway where work, friends and family didn’t matter. A place where I could stay for minutes, hours, decades as long as she could love and be loved.

"I love you".

"Please don’t leave me".

  That’s the funny thing about memories. No matter how long ago, no matter the occasion, they can turn bitter and poisonous in a matter of moments. Happy memories turn painful and the joy once felt is replaced by a pain so powerful that it leaves you limp and fragile and unable to face the world again. A pain that you relive every moment of every day of the rest of life. Memories are funny that way.