I woke up before the alarm today, peaceful in the dim room and quiet house. My cat was tucked up close to my legs, and my husband was pressed against my back. It was nice. Cozy.
I shifted slightly to get comfortable to go back to sleep. In the dark, my husband groggily whispered, “Where did you go?”
I couldn’t tell if he was awake or talking in his sleep. I asked, “What do you mean, where did I go?”
He stretched his arm out and draped it across my hip. “I reached for you, and you weren’t there.” He still sounded half-asleep. “I was sad.”
I smiled and patted his hand. “I was right here.”
He fell silent and was soon breathing rhythmically, gently, right back to sleep. Soon I joined him, and the three of us (including my cat, practically on top of my legs) dozed until the alarm went off.
I asked him if he remembered asking where I went, and he said yeah, that I wasn’t in the bed for a while. I assured him that I hadn’t wandered off for any night-time romps or mysterious adventures in the dark, that I had been right beside him the whole time.
I was still thinking about it as I left for work, turning to lock the door behind me. I smiled. I like knowing he was reaching for me in the dark, half asleep, still wanting me close to him. I like that we are so close, even after being together over 16 years. I like being with him, sharing life with him, laughing with him, sleep-talking with him…loving him.
Sweat & Sparkle 