Ronaldo Gilley

A short story…

The violent winds slowed to soft whisper in the night. The trees began to settle. The storm was calming.

He walked down the hall and saw his kids were sound asleep. What a relief! For a while, life was uncertain. The hurricane had devastated the city and claimed the lives of many over the course of three days. His life and that of his family’s had been spared. He walked into the bedroom where he discovered her, peacefully asleep. Peaceful. He smiled at the thought and released a deep breath that he didn’t even realize he had been holding. Everything had been so intense and happened so fast. He had been living in an apartment uptown ever since the separation, but when the hurricane hit, he raced to be with his family. He still had vows and he still was a man. There was nothing he wouldn’t do to keep them safe.

The hurricane had almost destroyed their neighborhood. Amidst all of the action, he had been holding all of his tension deep inside. There had been no time for him to be vulnerable or think inwardly for himself. He had to be a man first and protect his family. But, as she lay there at ease, he realized that he’d forgotten how beautiful she was. The moonlight shone through the bedroom window illuminating her smooth brown skin. Her full lips formed a smile as she slept. The small freckles beneath her eyes accentuated her prominent cheekbones – they seemed to dance on her face, rendering even her imperfections flawless. Damn, she was so gorgeous. At that point, all of the anger, fear, and resentment drained from his body – drained from his entire being.

He walked to the edge of the bed and pulled the covers back slightly, taking special care not to wake her. He eased in the bed beside her and she shifted slightly allowing him room next to her. She stretched and let out a soft moan. They didn’t think. They didn’t speak. They did what came natural. What felt natural. He extended his right arm and she positioned herself under it. He rubbed her shoulder gently and she lifted her head and rested it on his bare chest.

In many ways, the storm had become a symbolic summation of their marriage – beautiful, wonderful, turbulent, and destructive. However, it was their survival of the storm that gave them perspective. They’d held onto an argument for years, an argument they had forgotten. Truth and reconciliation had stopped being important; only the win mattered and they were both unyielding. Ultimately, they were both losing. The storm showed them that the arguments had been trivial. They were both tired. Tired of going for the win. Tired of dispensing energy on things so negative in nature. They didn’t want the win anymore. All they wanted was each other and the family they had created together. At that moment, as they embraced each other, they forgave one another. They were now in the calm after the storm. She felt safe in his arms and he felt a sense of completeness as she rested upon him.

This was it. Love. It had taken them ten years, a legal separation, and a hurricane to understand that love really was enough. Love can bring two people together and love can be sufficient to keep them together. Love. That is why it is called a bond, because it holds together. Love. That is all people need. And love will supply the rest.

That night, they fell asleep in each other’s arms. Both content. Both sustained…by love.