You arrive in a whirlwind,
Smelling of flowers and longing,
Pleasure and sharing and laughter and
Love.
So close,
And then you are gone,
Leaving happiness in your wake.

How many days have passed
Since our hands first touched, cautious fingers entwined?
How many steps along this tangled path
That we have made our own?

A journey over steep and jagged mountains,
Fraught with rocky canyons.
Harsh terrain that we surmounted,
Focused only on the endless road ahead.

For years we swore that we’d survive,
While we braved the deep abyss. 
And when at last we reached the other side,
The world was wrapped in darkness.

We’d helped each other through despair,
Despite no end in sight.
Had all our struggles been for naught?
Would anything be different?

Now, we allow ourselves a moment’s rest,
Before embarking once again.
Clasping our hands, with baited breath,
Await the break of dawn.

At last! The welcome rays of morning sun,
Illuminate our surroundings.
And turning to look back, we see
Just how far we’ve come,

Together.

I lingered out of reach, hidden deep within myself,
Careful not to share too much, lest I be exposed.
You danced nearby, matched my steps,
Risked yourself, inviting me to trust.

A smile, a laugh, a wink…

A touch.

Didyounoticewasitokaywillyou–
Suddenly I was in your arms,
I whispered secrets, you held me tighter,
And you said, “Here I am.”

My body is sore while my heart soars.