A Love Like Yours

 It was a beautiful evening at the lake, the air was warm, the sky was beginning to darken as the sun faded into the night.   We had decided to venture out and actually eat dinner IN a local restaurant that we love, we were masked up, being cautious and safe, nothing was going to ruin our night.  The food was delicious, the margaritas were especially good and we enjoyed each other's company as we always do, talking, laughing, loving.   After dinner, we made a stop to pick up some things, we made our way through the store, laughing and joking, Eric even broke out in dance at some point, fun is never hard to find with this guy.   We finished up our shopping and headed straight home, giggling about nothing and everything.   About 3 miles from our turnoff, we noticed a car swerving and another on the side of the road.  I looked up in horror as Eric covered my eyes and said "baby, close your eyes, don't look, DON'T LOOK!"   It was too late, I saw a young deer stumbling, trying to walk on its broken legs, desperate to escape the tragedy that had just fallen upon him.   My heart broke, saddened and scared, I started praying, knowing it could not survive, asking for its death to come quickly.   By the time we got home, I had calmed myself,  we unpacked our bags and  went to the bedroom to change into our pajamas.  I was sitting on the edge of the bed, heart heavy and sad,  some how I ended up curled up in the fetal position on the floor, sobbing and praying for the sweet innocent creature we had just seen 30 mins ago, suffering and scared.    Without saying a word, Eric got on the floor, curled up next to me, wrapped his arms around me and just quietly held me tight.   I asked him to pray for the little deer and for the woman who had hit him, I knew her heart was heavy and hurting.   He simply responded,  "I already did"     

Eric knew my heart before he met me.   The day before our first date, I was at the lake and an injured deer was in the rocks next to the dock.   I called the police crying, knowing with the freezing temperatures and his injuries,  the little deer would not survive the night.   They were kind to come out, hoping to mercifully put the deer out of its pain but unfortunately he crawled to the waters edge and swam to the other shore.  I called Eric, upset and crying, I felt such loss.  His empathy and kindness even before we met face to face was a rare treasure.  

My love for him was already true and deep yet 2 nights ago when he placed his hands over my eyes to protect my heart from what he knew would hurt it, when he curled up next to me and wrapped me tightly in his arms to comfort me, my love for Eric grew truer and deeper.   He has never had to tell me how nice he is or how kind his heart is, his actions and love have said enough.   I thank God for the path that has lead me to you, though it was a rough one, an ugly one, it is one I would travel again to know a love like yours.   Thank you for loving me