Love III - 5. What Have We Missed

Lying in his arms after making love
I sighed and said “All those years I wasted
not wanting to risk our friendship by becoming lovers.
We missed so much.”
He looked at me and shook his head.
“We’ve been friends since before we knew we could be anything else.
What have we missed?”

A few kisses beneath the moonlight?
We’ve walked along the beach at sunset,
stood looking out at the moonlight on the ocean,
sharing the silence of long-standing friends.

Holding each other, our arms locked in a passionate embrace?
When you were hurt, bloodied and beaten,
I picked you up and held you in my arms and cried.
When I was lying unconscious for days,
you were there when I opened my eyes,
holding my hand?
When you cried tears of grief,
I held you until you slept

Lying together, making love in the night?
We’ve shared a tent that leaked
with a 3 year old that also leaked!
And If we didn’t make love,
we felt the warmth of each other
beneath the soaked sleeping bag.

Whispering words of love in each other’s ears?
We’ve shared long conversations
about anything and everything and nothing!
And we’ve sat in easy silence
when no words were necessary.

Lover’s quarrels?
We’ve fought like brothers over stupid things
no longer remembered.
I’ve thrown you out into the snow to cool you off
when your head was hot and your tongue was sharp.

Being there for each other, sharing life and its ups and downs?
We’ve shared the joy of being in love with others,
and the pain of breaking up with them.
We’ve laughed at each other
and with each other.
We’ve eaten at the same table,
sometimes with friends,
sometimes with lovers,
yet always together.
When your life has fallen apart,
I’ve helped you pick up the pieces.
When I thought I was alone,
felt deserted by everyone I loved,
you parked yourself on my doorstep
and wouldn’t leave until I let you in.
You still haven’t left.

“So what, really, have we missed?”
I smiled, shook my head, said “Nothing.”
And we kissed.