While He Dreams

I sat on the edge of the bed wrapped in mocha colored sheets and overlapped with a floral designed comforter. My grandmothers choice, she always did love her flowers, bright ones to be specific. There on the left side of the bed laid the love of my life, Anthony. His body laying toward me with his long legs sprawled out in different directions, our caramel and vanilla colored dog lay with his own body across one of my Love's legs and beneath another. Anthony's right arm was over his head and pressed against the headboard and his left lay across my spot just below my pillow. I could hear his even breathing and thought of all the times through out the night it changed. His short ebony hair was as messy as it could be, the strands overlapping one another in an unusual fashion. His earthy colored eyes searched his dreams, wandering behind ginger toned skin. A smile came to my face as I watched him and the dog twitch at the same time, almost as if they were seeing the same thing in their slumbering state. Torrents and whirlwinds of stress and uncertainty swirled uncomfortably behind guarded eyes when they were open, but here...dreaming....was the place he could find peace. So many had ridiculed and chastised us for our decision to wed, no one understood how in love we were. How the way he used to look at me could sent butterflies to flutter in my stomach and my cheeks to redden. I had always thought that we would stay together for our life time. Now more things than not are strained between us. Though every once in a while he will look at me that makes my heart slam into my chest with excitement and fill my being with eagerness. But I can still feel something missing and I worry that my love alone will not be enough to replace it. If only I know what it was. He murmurs something in his sleep, but I cant make it out. He stills and I can barely make out his breathing and then he feels my side of the bed, I reach out my hand to lend him and he takes it firmly as to assure himself I am real and still there. His skin is so warm compared to my own, almost a burning heat, but that is how it has always been. I lean in and kiss his cheek and again I hear him murmur. He speaks my name in his half drowsy state then reaches with his other hand and pulls my head to his chest, holding it there, cradling it. Mere seconds is all it takes before my body is consumed by the heat he emits into mine. His hands move to rest around my waist and shoulders holding me there against him to keep me from leaving his side, like he did when we first began this journey together. Hope fills me and I fight back the stinging of tears that rise to the surface. His fingers strong yet soft stroke my side and I resist the urge to wiggle as it tickles me slightly. I am excited about the affection and can feel my heart beat faster against my rib cage trying to break out of my chest. His dark eyes open and they are so breath taking all I can do is stare back at them in be-wonderment. His brings his lips just barely to mine and I can feel his breath upon my face. He says in a sleepy yet tender tone, "I Love you."