#ValentineDayChallenge2022: You Made Me Whole Again

A love letter to my husband

I love you everything, I love you whole.

When we met 17 years ago, I'd already been broken into so many tiny, little pieces, I didn't think it was possible to be whole again. I had loved and suffered severe loss and had endured tragedy that ate at my soul so that I existed, but I was empty. Nothing held true meaning for me.

And then I met you.

What are the odds that we would meet in a crowd, strangers pressed together by a mass of anonymous bodies, that we would look into each other's eyes and just know that we were meant to be together?

It's bizarre almost, no right thinking person would believe it, and yet this is how we met 17 years ago: in the midst of a party, me standing alone in the crowd wondering what I was doing there and looking up to see you smiling at me, and your smile was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.

You promised to love me and you did

When we started to date, I waited for the other shoe to drop. You were kind and gentle and unreal, and I was fragile, just gathering the fragments of myself and trying to piece together the broken vessel that I had become, I didn't want to trust you with that. I didn't think I could be loved.

But even when I clawed and fought and pushed you away, you saw the vulnerability in me and you showed me that with enough love and determination, anything is possible.

Love after the storms

Even in a bed of roses, there are thorns, and over the years, our love has been tested.

But we have been through fire, crossed mountains, and survived storms which threatened to rip us apart. There have been moments when we didn't know if we could make it, the test was too difficult. But we did get by, thankfully, and what we have today, love after the storms, is all the more beautiful for it.

An Overall Amazing Adventure

14 years ago, we set off on an amazing adventure. We've come together, two as one, started a family, grown together as parents of wonderful kids, and marvelled at our good fortune. I certainly do every time I look at you.

Our first kid, you stood with me, held my hands, talked me through the pain, and after our beautiful baby was born, you came to me in awe, confounded, fascinated, excited by the new bond we had formed. These ties strengthened over the years with every new addition to our family, and as a father, you have stood up to the task and developed as an amazing role model that I am confident our children will remember for the rest of their lives.

Still the One

At night when I wake up, I'd look at you and my heart would clench so tight because you mean so much to me. Your love, your strength, your patience, persistence, romance... You taught me to love the right way. And now our souls are bound together, and I have found rest and peace in your arms. I love you everything, I love you whole.

Happy Valentine's Day, babe. 17 years since we met, 14 years since we exchanged vows... You're still the one.

SIDE NOTE

This is my entry for the #ValentineDayChallenge2022: a contest for love! The Challenge is hosted by @Infinity, @PVMihalache, and @Jane.

I am really super excited to take part in this, I hope it was okay to hop on.

Here's a link to the original article with the challenge and guidelines: https://read.cash/@Infinity/valentinedaychallenge2022-a-contest-for-love-af117dc7

I look forward to seeing and reading all the beautiful submissions the challenge will generate.

It's a lovely time of year, guys, let's spread the love!