I remember going for walks on the beach. In the sun. In the spray. It was on a beach in the Netherlands where he asked. I said yes.

It was February. His lips were blue. The sand stuck to his bluejeans as proof he had kneeled when he asked.

The wind was blowing, and his nose was dripping from the cold. He was beautiful, just like the beach at six AM.

Sometimes love hurts. If you’re separated, it hurts. If you’re isolated together, the constant rub of a partner’s shoulder can hurt. Transforming for the sake of love hurts. But for us, it’s been worth it.

We all go through the slow transformation of life. I choose to go through it for, and with you.

©2021 Mary Grace van der Kroef

Photo’s sources from unsplash and pixabay.