Non negotiables

Laughter.

Thinking the same things are funny. Laughing at all the same ridiculous TV shows and movies. Sending memes, videos, and Bitmojis back and forth all day long because we know what will make each other laugh. Because I’ve lived a life where the only time I ever laughed was when he tripped over something in the middle of the night, and that was unbearable.

Peace.

Tranquility and peace in my stomach when he’s around, security in my stomach when he’s not. Because I lived a life with a constant turmoil in my stomach, and sleepless nights and confusion and knowing in my gut that the stories never, ever added up and this person was not who they were pretending to be because there was never any peace in my stomach, and that was excruciating.

Faithfulness.

Needing them, and they drop everything to be there. Never letting another human come in between us. Celebrating each other’s wins. Being the first one they want to share all the news with, good or bad. Because I’ve lived a life where all other women came first, I always came last, I could never count on them to be there, and when other women came out of the woodwork with rumors, I knew in my gut that they were true, because there was never any shred of loyalty or faithfulness, and that was dismal.

There are more, but that’s my fifteen minutes for today.

See you tomorrow.