Savoring - the last carefree kiss

Spoiler alert - I didn't

This time last year, I sat in our Lazy Boy chair, the spring sun yawning behind me. My pen crept thoughtfully across the notebook page as the boards of this century-old house came to life with the awakening of my bride above. Two minutes later, Emily awaits standing on the lowest stair in front of me. I arise as we trade our “Good Mornings,” and walk over to the landing where we hug and kiss just like we’ve done hundreds of times since moving here five years ago - and just as we thought we would do for years to come.

Unbeknownst to both of us, that day would be different, ushering in a cascade of events, suffering and a roller-coaster of emotions. There would still be many more morning embraces at the base of those stairs but today I stand there like a fool waiting for the boards to creak again.