WRITING BATTLE 2015 ENTRIES

16# - Essence Of Love

Title : Essence of Love

Genre : Romance

He was cooking. I was sitting at the counter watching him. Music was playing on the stereo system. For the life of me I can't remember now what the song was, as much as I try to. He was swaying to the music as he took the spoon to check the sauce. Instead of bringing it to his lips, he brought it to mine and said, "Try it." I took a sip and took a moment to savor the taste. It was good but being my smart aleck self, I replied, "It's good, just not good as mine." He laughed and said, "Well next time we can switch places. You cook; I critique." I laughed and stuck my tongue out at him. There was always something about him that brought out the little kid in me. He tried the sauce himself and said out loud, "It needs a little more salt."

"You should know by now that I'm terrible at knowing if there's enough salt in the food. Dad with high blood pressure, remember?" I said pointing at myself. He laughed and continued with his cooking. Suddenly, he lifted his head, stopped his cooking and looked right at me.

"What?" I asked him, confused by his actions.  

                Suddenly, he put the spoon down and came around the counter to my side. He pulled me by my hand and led me out to the middle of the room. I looked at him, bewildered by his randomness. I raised my eyebrow, silently questioning him. He just laughed. He took one of my hands in his, intertwining our fingers, and placing the other one on his shoulder. His other hand slid down to my waist, reaching the small of my back. We started swaying to the music, probably off beat but neither of us cared in that moment. I was caught up in the look in his eyes. I had seen it occasionally in the eyes of friends who had the misfortune to fall in love with me, but this time it was different. I knew if you took a photo of us in that moment you would see that look reflected in my own eyes. I was madly, deeply in love with this man.

"The best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for more, that plants a fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds. That's what you've given me. And what I'd hoped to give you forever." said he.

The song ended. He resumed cooking and I went back to my place by the counter, watching him. I no longer believed in the idea of love at first sight. But I was beginning to believe that a very few times in your life,  you might meet someone who was exactly right for you. Not because he was perfect, or because you were, but because your combined flaws were arranged in a way that allowed two separate beings to hinge together.