It had been days since I had seen the sun. When it was not precipitating, it was overcast. The gray dullness had made me listless and apathetic. I wandered aimlessly from chore to chore just to make the days pass. This morning I chewed my cereal and stared out the front window.

Then I saw him. After the long winter months where his military duties had kept him from my sight, he entered his apartment down the street from me.

My heart leaped into my throat. I hadn’t realized how much I missed him. Adrenaline woke me, shook me to my core, and prompted a look at myself in the mirror. I looked like I was going to court a yeti. This would never do!

As the sun rose and the day lightened, the dark heavy storm clouds rolled slowly away. Blue sky began to peek through the layers of cumulus with more light making the wet pavement sparkle.

Bravely, I groomed myself, then ventured down to welcome him back. Whatever would happen next was up to fate, but I was opening the door. It felt good.