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Walking on the street, feeling the rain running down my face. I was heading home, only stopped in a flower shop to buy red roses for my beloved wife to show her my love, respect, courage, and passion. Because today we are completing five years of marriage.
When I got home, she wasn’t there. I called for her but got no response. I wasn’t worried but disappointed. It’s normal for my green-eyed brunette to work late, but I was expecting her to be here early for our anniversary.
So now, putting my feelings aside, I’m going to the kitchen to get myself a glass of water before heading to the shower (I don’t wanna get a cold). I’m gonna shower in this first-floor bathroom, so I don’t wet the whole house trying to get upstairs.
The bathroom door is closed. That’s weird. I knock — maybe Lena is in there. Again, no answer. I don’t have any other option besides going to our bathroom. Getting to the stairs, I start feeling something is off. I can hear bubbling water like someone is in the bathtub; the wind as the windows are open, which it shouldn’t be when no one is home.
I have a choice to make:
1. Go there and see what’s happening;
2. Call Lena to see if it’s her;
3. Stay here and wait for my wife to show up.
Being the way I am, I’m doing number one.
I get the bouquet — I mean, it can be Lena — and slowly go in the direction of my destination. The closer I get to the main bedroom, I start listening to Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No.2 — the most romantic song I’ve ever heard; sweet but strong regardless. Walking down the hallway and turning to the left, I can see the bedroom door slightly open with a red light coming out from it.
I open the door and... I have no words. The room is filled with red-lit candles and petals that form an “I love you” on the bed. I enter the room in the quietest way possible to not alarm Lena, who’s in the bathroom. On the tip of my toes, I get to where she is. She can’t see me, as I am behind her.
Seeing her naked, covered by the bubbles, in the bathtub makes me smile. She’s so relaxed and waiting for me. How was I able to find someone like her? To find her?
“I don’t think you will
Ever fully understand
How you touched my life
And made me who I am.
You are the keeper of my dreams,
The woman who holds my heart,
The one I want to spend my life with,
The one with whom I will always stand.
Stand beside through thick and thin
Through all that life throws our way
Knowing that this special love we share
Will guide us each and every day.
I don’t think you could ever feel
All the love I have to give,
And I’m sure you never realize
You’ve been my will to live.”
“In all the world there is no heart for me like yours. In all the world there is love for you like mine.” — Lena answered my recitation with another one.
“Maya Angelou. Happy five years, my love!”
“Stephanie Schiavone. How romantic! Happy five years, darling! — she answers with a husky voice.
I love how she always knows who I am quoting. She’s the smartest person I’ve ever met. No wonder she is known as the infamous CEO who has changed the biotech world scenario. And yet, she’s so simple, so human.
“How have you been doing, darling?” — she asks without looking at me.
I kneel right next to her on the floor and give her the flowers.
“I’ve had a great day, which got even better now.” — I look her up and down and blink with a smirk covering my face.
“Charming.” — she lowly laughs. “Get in here or you’re gonna get cold.”
“Bossy” — I say it with a huge grin.
“Always.” — she smirks back at me.
I sit leaning against the tub and Lena sits in front of me leaning against my front. I hug her and murmur sweet nothings in her ear.
“Thank you for the flowers, darling. They are beautiful, just like you. I could not be happier in these five years with you. There are no words to describe how much I love you, how important you are to me.” — those words are said with so much kindness that it makes my heart explode.
I blush. I always blush when she says these kinds of things to me. I smile like a goof. How can she be so perfect?
“Je t’aime!” — I say before kissing her.