"I don't know what love is, but..."

Riding the streetcar, occupying two facing seats across the aisle, is a developmentally disabled couple, probably in their mid-30s. 

He is engrossed in his XBox; she sings "Good times, good times", words without a tune.

Then she speaks to him, so loudly that the car easily hears: "I LOVE you, honey." He replies, not looking up, but equally audibly: "I love you too."

She speaks again, not addressing him, more softly, as if voicing a thought: "I don't know what love is, but..."

At the stop, he descends first, then extends his hand to help her navigate the steps.

I turn to the natty young businessman in the seat next to me and smile. "Yep!" he exclaims, as our eyes follow the couple, now walking hand in hand down the street.

Pondering love, indefinable, mysterious, yet deeply felt, each of us heads into our day. 

Happy Valentines' Day!

Comments

Susan B said…
Wonderful! Thanks for sharing that story.
Kristine said…
What a lovely way to start the day. Thanks!
That was so sweet. Happy Valentine's Day and thank you.
Northmoon said…
Oh yes! Happy Valentine's Day, and thank you for sharing this.
HB said…
Thank you - and Happy Valentine's Day!
Mardel said…
What a wonderfully sweet story! Thank you for sharing.
LPC said…
Exactly. Lovely. And I didn't figure out that love could mean getting taken care of until I was well into midlife.
materfamilias said…
Aw! That's the perfect story for Valentine's Day -- thanks so much for sharing it.
Sweet story, thanks for sharing...it's beautiful in it's simplicity.
Rubiatonta said…
Merci pour la belle histoire! A wonderful coda to my day...

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