Page 75 of Clean Hack

“Yes. Come on, you can stand at the back door while I look. I have a million flood lights out there so you can see.”

And so we showered outside, under the dark, star-filled sky. Yes, it was romantic and we stayed there kissing until the water ran cold. I couldn’t have been happier with her by my side. I found my home. The place I was meant to be. The one thing that I’d been lacking my entire life.

“I never got that amazing burger you promised me,” she said a little while later as we were lounging on the couch, tangled up in one another and watching something on the TV.

“I will take you there as soon as they open tomorrow,” I said then placed a light kiss on her temple. I would have gone out and gotten the damn thing right now if they’d been open, but once we got here time just seemed to slip by us. I wasn’t complaining, not in the least.

I was a man in love with the most amazing woman. I couldn’t have dreamed her up if I tried. She fit into every part of me. She pulled me out of a life that was all set for loneliness. I may have not realized it back before I met her, but I’d become old before my time. I may have been pushing forty, but that didn’t mean I had to start being an old man. She showed me life and joy. She showed me beauty and showered my soul with warmth. She didn’t make fun of me for the things I liked and the fact that I didn’t mind the simple life. Matter of fact, she was right there curled up beside me watching renovation shows at the end of the day.

But that didn’t mean that I kept her locked up. I loved our nights out as much as our quiet time. I loved taking her to new and exciting places. And we had many adventures on the road between shuffling around from place to place.

There was a perfect balance to it all. She made me laugh and feel free, while I pushed her into the light and helped her overcome her anxiety.

She was…

The other half of my soul.