What does love mean to us?

It can be anything.

As a child, love simply meant staying with me in the dark. Love meant holding my hand as I crossed the street or walked around in a mall. Love meant keeping me close so I won’t get lost.

Love also means trying to make each other happy. It meant getting that red ball I’ve always wanted for Christmas. Love meant getting that Barbie cake even if it was impractical. Love meant matching dresses and nighttime stories from my favorite book.

Love also meant being each other’s second family. It meant impromptu trips to McDonald’s for french fries and ice cream just to be with each other. Love meant sharing your new toys with each other. Love meant sharing sugar laden pancakes and running around in the garden on a lazy afternoon.

Love also comes after the whispers of infatuation. It might mean that first fluttering feeling of butterflies felt in an unassuming moment of weakness. It meant cherishing that small little note of kindness passed on in a hurry. It meant reading that note over and over again and keeping it safe in my favorite book.

Love also means dealing with disappointment. It meant bittersweet goodbyes and unrequited feelings kept buried until it disappears like sand in an hourglass. It meant longing for each other in ways that drove you crazy. It meant missing each other even after an explosive argument. It meant doing everything you can to be with each other - even at the expense of many personal sacrifices. But in spite of all of this, when there is love - there is always a lingering feeling of tenderness that stays with you like a stubborn anchor.

Love also shows itself in the most mundane moments. Love means having my lunch packed for me when I have to go to work early in the morning. Love means making sure the other never goes hungry. Love means doing chores you hate doing so the other does not have to do it. Love means sitting next to each other and still missing each other. Love means trying to make the food your mom used to make for you. Love means home and having each other as your safe space.

Love means trying to be better for each other. Love also means dreaming together so we can live our best life. Love means thinking of us as one. Love means gratitude, patience, and understanding. It means holding on because we have something precious.

To the love of my life, I know what love means simply because I am loved.