17 years ago the calender was the same as this year. meaning that February 20th was a Sunday then too. So it fits very well that I remember this anniversary particularly tonight.
Friday sitting in class, I wrote his name in the margin of my class notes, one more wish, one more prayer that maybe he would change his mind, maybe he would come back, maybe after these 4 awful lonely months he'd figure out he'd made a horrible mistake for the last time and he'd come back to me for good. To someone that loved him and wouldn't ever think of leaving and hurting him like he'd been hurt before, like I was sure would happen again.
After class that Friday, I'd go back to my dorm room and see those beautiful roses. The ones with the card that said "No Signature Requested". I knew who I wanted them to be from, yet I also knew who my heart told me really sent them. They really were beautiful, and that anonymous card gave me more permission to dream. I had no obligation to be thankful.
That was Friday.
This was Sunday. I was singing with our student ministries group that night at a local church. He was in the group. Not the first he, but HIM. I kept all personal conversations between me and HIM centered squarely on the he I was missing so. HE patiently listened and didn't try to change my mind about him or anything else. We were back at the Student Center after the concert, relaxing and watching a movie. Free Willy to be exact. Sitting side by side on the sofa we got into the movie. I don't remember if it was the first time I had seen it or not, but was our first time to see it together. HE reached up and laid his arm across the back of the sofa behind my head. I didn't think about it at first, but as HE slowly inched it closer I surprised us both by reaching up and taking his hand. Little did I realize that that one move would become the start of something that is still going strong this day. Seventeen years later.
Happy Anniversary!
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