10 Ways To L♥ve: 2- The Good-Bye

His heart skipped a beat when he saw her like that, waiting for him and glowing. He always knew that no one would make him feel the way she did. She was perfect, and so was his love. Her dazzling eyes, the way her soft skin felt the first time he touched her, and her smell… it made him feel alive. With a lump in his throat, he offered his arm and calmly, they started walking. His free hand touched her; she was shaking. He dared to look her way, and he had to hold back his tears when he saw her smile. He couldn’t stop thinking about the first night he took her home, and all the sleepless nights after that, just watching her dreaming. He quit smoking, started getting home early from work, and comforted her after every nightmare. Now here he was, saying good-bye. They finally stopped walking. In tears, she looked his way and hugged him. He felt his heart shrink when she whispered, “I love you daddy.” Slowly he walked away from the bride and her groom. Sitting next to his wife he swallowed a sob as he saw his baby smiling at a new man.

If I were a body part I would be a freckle

Not a mole. Not a cluster of freckles. One freckle. A beauty mark. A spot.

Not a pair of eyes, which are the windows of the soul, and the telescopes to all the emotions. Nor the hands, strong and decided, that help you win the bread, nor the sweat of your brow, nor the pumping heart that keeps you alive (and tells you which person it has decided to love). Not even the brain, which hides the entire symphony of life, in all its complexity and beauty. No.

I'd be a freckle. Small, precise, totally unnecessary and exquisitely unique. I would brand with honor the smallness of my territory. Proud and definitive like the period that marks the end of a love note. I would hide in an insignificant, delicious, intimate place. Behind the ear perhaps. Between the thighs, on the little finger, on the lower back. And thanks to me that ear, those thighs, that finger, or that back would be unique in the world. I think about the level of intimacy that I should have with myself, or another human being, to have the pleasure of discovering a new freckle. As if the body itself whispered little secrets. Think about it.

Something flutters with pleasure in my stomach just by thinking that there is a place in my body, or his, that I, and only I know, and if they showed me all pinkies in the world, or thighs, or lower backs, only you and I would smile with succulent complicity knowing that that one there is you, and this one here is me.

Pups are People Too

I grew up catholic, and in the church the only ones that have the luxury of owning an immortal soul are humans. I studied psychology, and so far the only ones with a proven complex communication systems, and intricate emotions are... I bet you guessed-- humans! 

Well, not to offend any religious people[s], or psychology gurus, but honey, that's bull shiet. Not to mention a little conceited and self-centered. 

When my brand new white boxer puppy was about 9 weeks old she decided to snack on my brand new white computer cord that I had just gotten the day before for the "modest" price of $180, I felt a sudden rage. I'll just say that I was so angry when I disciplined her I had to go back to her a few minutes later to, literally, apologize. Yes, to a dog. She was scared out of her puppy mind shaking under that coffee table in the living room. That was her favorite spot on earth to play, and now her safe haven. She tried to hide and refused to come out when I tried to get her. Man, it broke my heart. I sat down on the floor in front of the table and lowered my voice. I looked at her trembling little chubby body and her huge frightened puppy eyes, and told her that mommy wasn't angry. Mommy was actually extremely sorry, and she loved her so very much. She stayed there looking at me in fear. With a heavy knot in my stomach I thought I had scared her for life, and now she was gonna hate me forever. This made me feel so terrible I wanted to cry.  There was a pause. Slowly she came out from under the table, walked a few clumsy steps, and buried her little face in between my ribs and my arm. I swear to Mother Nature and all the parallel universes that she was saying something like "I'm sorry mommy".

I don't know exactly what it was about that moment but a tingling warm sensation spread from her minuscule soft body to my heart. I promised her out loud that I would never ever ever be mean to her again, and that I loved her with all I had. I kissed her deliciously cute flappy cheeks, and cuddled her while she bit my thumbs (her favorite chew toy when she was teething). I understood I was as responsible for her mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing as I would be for the wellbeing of any human children I could have in the future. In that moment I realized, without any doubt, that I knew something that some catholic priests or Harvard graduated doctors did not know. 

Now, let me tell you something. If this little puppy of mine did not have a soul, complex emotion, or a communication system I am the king of France.

Just saying.

PS: I truly honestly believe, with most absolute conviction, that this does NOT pertain only to dogs. I believe that anything that was once born, exists, and will one day die owns its own exceptional soul, intricate set of emotions, and communicates with its surroundings. (Except maybe for cats, who are the evil minions from the underworld)

10 Ways To L♥ve: 1- Reconciliation

“Hey,” she said coldly, letting him in.

“Hi. Look, I brought you this,” he whispered pulling a candy bar out of his pocket and handing it to her as an apology.  She took a deep breath, and faked a smile.

“Thank you.” She took it wondering when he was going to realize she never liked chocolate.

“So, what have you been up to?” He asked awkwardly while she continued cleaning her room and picking up clothes from the floor.

“Oh not much,” she said in a casual tone “just making out with hot guys, you know.” They both laughed. He knew things were fine when she joked like that.

“I’m sorry if I did anything that bothered you.” He meant every word.

Although he had forgotten her birthday, didn’t even call her on Valentine’s, brought his roommates to their anniversary dinner, and ditched her last night to play video games with his friends, he really was a good guy.

“No worries” She pulled another smile.

“You’re the best,” he said smiling back and kissing her. Meanwhile she sneakily kicked under the bed a pair of men’s briefs that had been left there the night before.