Loose Lips, Sink Ships

I was digging through an old shoe box of photographs the other day, when I came across this picture of you. It brought to mind the first day we met, like it was only yesterday. I even remember that vintage, pink dress you wore that summer afternoon. You looked so innocent, as if you didn't have a care in the world. As I recall, we met in the fiction section of a Barnes & Nobles, while looking for the same book. Seeing as it was the last copy of The Catcher in the Rye on the shelf, I kindly insisted you have it. In return, you gave me a smile that will forever be embedded in my mind. As you walked off, I couldn't help but feel like I was letting something wonderful get away. But I shook it off and proceeded to ask the clerk if there were anymore copies in stock; when you came back and generously offered to let me borrow it once you were finished. I guess you must have felt the same way too and that's what brought you back. We exchanged numbers and everything took off from there. The more we got to know each other, the more we fell deeply in love. Everything was moving so quickly. One week, we're just dating; and then the following week, you're moving into my apartment. Our friends thought we were crazy and making a big mistake, but we didn't give damn. We were young and madly in love.

I'll never forget that day I came home from work, to find you waiting by the front door with your hands behind your back. At that moment, you reminded me of a little girl who was dreading being scolded by her parents. You looked so adorable. We've been together about a year at this point. You said that you had a surprise for me and not to look. As I closed my eyes, you had me hold out my hands. You placed your soft, fragile palms on top of mine and said: "Now, look down." I anxiously opened them to find you had those words tattooed on the outside of your hands. I was taken back at first, since you chose one of my favorite sayings to have tattooed in such a visible spot on your body. But I could tell from the look in your eyes, to that beautiful smile on your face, it was your way of telling the world you loved me. I don't think I've ever experienced unconditional love, until that very moment. Some days when I get into my car, right before I put the key in the ignition, I sit back, close my eyes and think of how your face lit up with sheer joy that evening. My only regret is that I never got to tell you how much that romantic gesture meant to me. Sometimes, I can't believe it's already been five years since you passed away that very, same night...